What happens when children eat too much sugar?

Children who consume a lot of sugary foods are prone to weight gain and are at risk of dental diseases and diabetes.

Children eating a lot of candy and drinking soft drinks in moderation does not have a big impact on their health, but consuming them too often will be harmful. Consuming a lot of sugar increases the risk of obesity and chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Gout, joint pain, and fatty liver can occur in overweight people due to consuming too much sugar.

Children who love sweets are also susceptible to dental diseases such as tooth decay and gingivitis. If left untreated, the disease can lead to serious infections and other health problems.

Too much sugar in the body also reduces the body's ability to absorb other nutrients. The empty calories from sugar also make children feel full quickly, making it easy to ignore other nutritious foods necessary for growth and development.

Sweeteners can accelerate the shortening of telomeres. These are the DNA segments that protect chromosomes from damage and prevent degeneration. The shorter the telomeres, the more impaired the cell's function and the faster it ages. Although this shortening occurs naturally during aging, excess sugar intake has a significant impact.

Children who eat too much sugar are more likely to have tooth decay or obesity-related diseases such as diabetes, heart disease... Photo: Freepik — Children who eat a lot of sweets are prone to weight gain and dental problems. Photo: *Freepik*

Parents encourage their children to choose foods with little or no sugar to create healthy eating habits and prevent chronic diseases in adulthood.

The American Heart Association recommends that children and adolescents consume no more than 25 grams of sugar, or about 6 teaspoons, a day. This is about the amount of sugar in a small chocolate bar and less than a can of soda. Children under the age of two should not have added sugar in their diets.

The easiest way to limit sugar intake is to prepare healthy meals at home, avoiding ready-made ones. For example, replace soft drinks, energy drinks, fruit juices and sweetened teas with water or unsweetened varieties. Sweeten yogurt with berries, and encourage your child to eat fruit directly instead of juicing or making a sweetened smoothie. Choose sauces, nut butters and tomato sauces that are unsweetened. Get your child into the habit of drinking water and whole milk, instead of flavored milk, for better health.

When purchasing foods from the supermarket, parents should read food labels carefully and check ingredient lists for potential sugary ingredients such as evaporated cane juice, corn syrup, raw sugar and crystalline solids.

Some families often use sweets such as lollipops, cakes, candies, and sweet drinks as rewards to encourage children to complete assigned tasks. This unintentionally makes children think that these foods are more delicious than other types. Parents can reward their children with beautifully decorated vegetable salads, fish, etc. to motivate them without affecting their health.

Along with limiting sugary foods, teaching children to brush their teeth at a young age helps remove plaque and strengthen teeth. This helps children form the habit of brushing their teeth more often.

Bao Bao (According to Very Well Health, Healthline )

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