HEALTHY EATING FOR CHILDREN

Parent Control: Eating high-sugar foods at an early age makes kids crave them more later in life. It is up to parents to train their children’s taste buds on the level of sweetness desired. Eg – instead of soda and fruit drinks, provide 100% juice which although containing sugar has vitamins and immune-boosting antioxidants; give fruit rather than candy and never reward with a sweet treat.

Cavities: Sugar alone doesn’t cause them, but it does fuel the growth of bacteria that do. So while flossing and regular brushing of the teeth help avoid cavities, continuous consumption of sugar makes them more likely. Dentists usually advise against putting infants to sleep with a bottle of milk (because it contains milk sugar) or juice.

Behavioral problems: When blood-sugar levels rise too high, the body responds by producing a large amount of insulin, a hormone that takes sugar out of the blood and sends it into body cells. Blood-sugar levels may then drop so quickly, resulting in children feeling shaky or sluggish. Interestingly, a desire for more sweets can be triggered off by low blood-sugar levels. This creates a vicious cycle of fluctuating high and low levels of sugar.

Controlling portion size, diluting juices, selecting snacks low in sugar and making sure children eat something healthy along with sweets. Protein (cheese, nuts, soy, meat, beans ) and fiber such as whole grains, fruits and veggies help slow down the fluctuation of blood-sugar levels.

Obesity: Sugar alone doesn’t make kids overweight. Children have the propensity to gain extra pounds when they consume more calories than they burn. Unfortunately, sweet drinks and snacks typically supply calories above and beyond what kids need to satisfy their hunger.

Sugar calories also tend to go down too fast and easy. Did you know that there is approximately ten teaspoons of sugar in a 12-ounce can of soda and many sweetened fruit drinks, some of which have more. The regular consumption of even one sweet drink (fruit punch, soda, or sweetened iced tea) a day can increase the risk of obesity.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises age-by-age limits:

* No fruit juice for babies under 6 months

* No more than 6 ounces a day for babies 6 months to 1 year

* No more than 6 ounces a day for kids 1 to 6

* No more than 12 ounces a day for kids over 6.

Diabetes: A high-sugar diet can increase a child’s risk of developing Type 2 diabetes or the prediabetic condition known as insulin resistance syndrome. Both can result when the body becomes less sensitive to insulin, and both are associated with a variety of serious health problems in later life, including heart disease and even infertility.

Cancer has become one of the leading killer diseases in children in recent times. Consumption of sugar which produces a low oxygen environment, robs the body of oxygen. Also, due to its acidic nature, it makes cells have a very low pH when ingested shutting off the immune system – responsible for antibody production.

Sodas are very acidic with a pH of 2.5. This means a child would have to consume 32 glasses of water with a pH of 10 to neutralize one soda.

Sugar also blocks calcium absorption. In addition, it depletes B vitamins which is needed by the liver to detoxify it. The liver is the most important organ when it comes to healing the body.

The continued use of sugar only allow for the depletion of life by robbing children of oxygen and calcium and forcing cellular reactions to function in an acidic environment. The result is a weaker individual and a welcoming environment for cancer to thrive and grow.

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