World According to a study published in the famous journal “Science”, if the baby does not receive sugar for the first 1,000 days after birth, the risk of developing chronic diseases in adulthood can be reduced. These first days also include the days when the child is growing in the womb. This means that the mother will have to reduce sugar in her diet from the day of conception.
This study showed that if children are not fed sugar from a young age, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes can be reduced by 35%. The risk of obesity can be reduced by 30% and the risk of high blood pressure can be reduced by 20%. In addition, diseases caused by age also appear a few years late.
According to a study published in Science Direct in June 2018, sugar consumption from a young age can affect children’s mental and physical development. It can also increase the risk of puberty and neurological diseases at an early age.
Therefore, today in “Sehatnama” we will know how sugar affects children of developmental age. You will also learn that-
What effect does sugar have on brain and body development? How can we reduce sugar in children’s diets?
Rich countries around the world have set rules for baby food
The world’s richest and most developed countries have adopted strict regulations regarding baby foods. It has been clarified that no added sugar should be used in the diet of children under two years of age. The reason is the impact of added sugar on children’s physical and mental development. Which countries have banned the addition of sugar to baby food, see the chart:
This means that if a food company wants to sell their baby food here, it is necessary that that product be sugar-free.
What effect does sugar have on children’s development?
According to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, even a very small amount of sugar in the diet of children under 2 years old is harmful. In fact, it harms the mental and physical development of children. They may also have a problem with weight gain during childhood.
Eating sugar can cause mood swings in children. This can interfere with their memory and cause inflammation. Apart from this, what other problems can arise, see in the graph:
This concern about sugar in children’s diets is not limited to studies and research alone. As a result, very disappointing figures appear.
The problem of obesity is increasing among young children
The problem of childhood obesity has become common in recent years. According to the WHO, in 2022, around 3.7 million children under the age of 5 were overweight worldwide, while around 39 million children between the ages of 5 and 19 were overweight. Obesity at such a young age means these children are at risk for many lifestyle diseases, even before adolescence. They are also at high risk of contracting many chronic diseases.
Diabetes cases are increasing among young children
According to Statista data, around 6 lakh 52,000 children worldwide suffer from type 1 diabetes. It is worrying that around 3 lakh 56,000 cases were reported in 2021 alone.
Why do little children get addicted to sweets?
Food companies around the world use added sugar in most children’s food products because the sweet taste makes children happy. This is the reason why we want to eat them again and again and the companies’ products are popular. Recently, questions have been raised regarding Nestlé’s baby food. The company sold baby food laced with added sugar.
Dr. RD Srivastava says that the mind of small children cannot think of its own good and evil. Their reasoning skills are also not developed. So they cannot decide for themselves what to eat or not to eat.
They don’t even know what effect eating something will have on their health. Therefore, as parents and guardians, it is our responsibility. They will need to be fed a diet that makes their body fundamentally strong and does not put them at risk of lifestyle diseases in the future.
Parents are responsible for the child’s food
Dr. Mark Hyman is a well-known health practitioner in America. Dr. Hyman attributes more than 70% of modern diseases to people’s lifestyle and food systems. They say you shouldn’t hand over control of your health to the medical system.
It is said that children’s memory and habits are formed by observing what is happening around them. If they grow up seeing that people eat fruits and vegetables when they are hungry, then they will insist on eating fruits and vegetables rather than chocolate when they are hungry.
We need to create an environment around them in which there is no place for sugary foods. Apart from this, some taste buds of children start developing in the uterus itself. Therefore, the mother must have a very balanced and healthy diet from pregnancy onwards. Parents should keep the following things in mind –
The pregnant mother should be careful not to eat sugary foods. Give the baby only milk, boiled fruits and vegetables. If the baby does not drink milk, do not make the mistake of adding sugar to it for convenience.
healthy love and affection
Often, maternal uncles, uncles or aunts lovingly bring chocolates to children. In such a situation, it is the parents’ responsibility to tell everyone close to them. Explain to them how aware you are of your child’s diet and how they should support it.
For this, Dr. Hyman gives some suggestions. See the graph:
The result of this food culture will be that all these things will be recorded in the child’s mind as primary memory. If he wants to eat something sweet in the future, he will buy fruit. If he has to go meet a child, he will take fruits and vegetables. The tradition we start today will continue to develop in this way and a beautiful and healthy society will develop.
The Indian government has informed e-commerce companies that many drinks, including Bournvita, cannot be sold under the health drinks category. …