Research 3

Source:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2011/09/26/140753048/kids-sugar-cravings-might-be-biological

My Topic:
Eating a lot of sugary foods is worse for children than for adults.

What I hope to learn from this source:
I want to know the biological facts why children crave sugar.  

Notes:

1. In this article,  there is Mennella's research. It has shown that sugar is a natural pain reliever in children, and many hospitals even put a sweet-tasting liquid in a baby's mouth during circumcisions or heel stick procedures to help lessen the pain. I want to use this research to support the evolutionary theory of craving sugar. It is reliable because Mennella is a specialist and therefore I can use this research.

3. Secondly, I want to use the Coldwell's statement. Coldwell says that one important clue lies in the discovery that growing bones actually secrete hormones that can influence metabolism. Other well-known metabolic hormones like leptin and insulin have been shown to act on brain areas that control cravings and appetites, and even directly bind to the tongue, where they affect the preference for sweet tastes. "I don't know for sure, but I am very suspicious that the bones are somehow telling either the brain or the tongue that there is energy needed for their growth and signaling for that preference to increase," he says. I think it is good because it is a specialist's opinion. However, I feel something lacking because his comments doesn't seem obvious. He is saying "I don't know for sure." and "suspicious". However, on the other hand, I think it could be a good reason to strengthen my topic because it is a new and fresh idea supporting children's preference for sugary foods.

Final Thoughts:

This source is interesting because it contains specialists' opinions. In my next research, I want to find the importance of eating habits of children and the statistics that is related to my topic.