It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that too much sugar is definitely bad for children. Yes I admit I too have succumbed to the easy bribing methods of bartering the odd lollipop or ice-cream Popsicle just for some moments of peace, only to be faced with a sugar induced unreasonable child monster. A very bad turn of events indeed.

Sugar is a found in everything we eat from the naturel sugars in our fruit bowl to the processed sugars in the cookie jar. Sugar cannot be easily escaped. Our love for the sweet stuff begins from an early stage, babies are born with a preference for the sweet breast milk provided by their mothers and as the weaning process continues the first solids that interest a baby are fruit and other sweet baby cereals, while vegetables and grains take a back seat. Children’s breakfast cereals despite having tons of iron and calcium as the box advertises are also filled with unnecessary sugars that our children consume.

The effects of sugar on our children

If you were to stop and think you would be surprised at the amount of sugars that your child has consumed by the end of the day. From the early morning flavored milk, to the child addicted breakfast cereal, to the odd sugary snack, the refreshing carbonated drink during a hot afternoon , to the ‘good behavior treat’ later in the day….and the list goes on. Scientists have proven that sugars are a necessary part of a child’s diet and unless you have seriously questionable taste buds every child will choose the sweet treat over the healthy savory option. Therefore it is important to get the balance of sugars right in our children’s diet. Excess amounts of sugar consumption can take a toll on a child’s life and instigate serious health conditions as they grow older if they continually pursue an unhealthy dietary lifestyle. Here are some of the effects of excessive sugar consumption can have on children:

Infants – Experts have advised that the introduction of sugary fruit drinks at an early along with breast milk can cause serious teeth decay infants. The amount of sugars consumed in combination are equivalent if the child was only fed sugar. It is important to introduce the right products at the right time and to adhere to the naturel sugars rather that adding more sugars just to make it taste nice.

Tooth decay – Eating sugar can definitely cause teeth decay. Especially hard candies, lollipops etc that stay in your mouth for a long time increase the risk of tooth decay further. The longer the sweet is in your child’s mouth for the more damage it can do to the teeth enamel because of the presence of acids.

Childhood obesity – Is a serious problem and one that I feel is growing in Sri Lanka. We all want our children to look healthy but being fat is not a sign of healthiness. Childhood obesity can cause chronic heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma and sleep apnea. It also sets the base for further adult health problems.

Behavioral issues – Consuming large amounts of refined sugar through flavored milks, cookies etc cause a spike in blood sugar levels. Once the levels start to fall then this releases adrenaline and causes hyperactivity in children. They also develop mood swings and can lead to unreasonable tantrums and meltdowns since they cannot control themselves.

Getting the Balance right

YES sugars are also a necessary part of our everyday diet. But we as parents must get the balance right. I would not agree with depriving a child of the occasional sweet treat but we must not get into the habit introducing sugary foods at every meal. There are a lot of hidden sugars in everyday products that we are not aware of for example, children’s breakfast cereals, flavored milks, pastries, these all might initially seem healthy but in fact are laden with sugar bombs. From an early stage introduce your child to a balanced diet rich in natural sugars, for example in fruits, and nutrient rich vegetables. These are important habits to instill in our children right from the beginning and make their adults lives free from unnecessary disease. We owe it to them.

By Mayuri Jayasinghe