Sugar Consumption And Children: The Menace Of Sugar Lingering On A Child's Life

Amid the alarming health crisis associated with sugar consumption, the menace of obesity and diabetes has unfurled, casting its dark shadow over the world. To put things in perspective, around 13,000 children are diagnosed with diabetes annually.

People, however, refuse to understand the gravity of the situation lurking upon them. Countering this ill fate requires serious attention and even so, nobody seems to notice and nobody seems to care.

Political institutions and governments have been shirking off these perils for far too long now. This disturbing situation cannot be eradicated overnight but can be curbed gradually. According to Authority Nutrition, all that needs to be done is to first establish some essential lifestyle changes in every household. Since children are quite fond of consuming sugar, much more than adults, they're the ones who are at a much higher risk.

As noted by Center For Parenting Education, consuming sugar in excessive quantities is the primary cause of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, low-energy and a depressing mood. Kids consuming foods high on sugar are often hyperactive in one moment then completely lethargic and lazy the next minute.

To understand why such sudden changes occur, it's first important to understand what exactly sugar does to the body. Primarily, there are two kinds of sugar; the first is the bad kind of sugar found in simple carbohydrates contained in processed foods, candies and sodas. After consuming junk food, the bad sugar doesn't take much time to get absorbed into the bloodstream after which the person experiences a sudden rush of energy followed by a phase of lethargy and laziness, all the while leaving the person craving for more.

At the other end of the spectrum, there's this good kind of sugar found in complex carbohydrates in healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables and other naturally sweet foods. Since these foods are rich in fiber, they slow down the digestive process as well as the rate of sugar absorption in the bloodstream.

So now that parents know what is good for them and their children, start implementing a rule on it. Make small changes gradually and slowly. Devise a healthy eating lifestyle in a way that it doesn't feel enforced. Read out food labels and beware of names like corn syrup, brown sugar, dextrose, lactose, sorbitol, mannitol, maltitol, xylitol, honey and sucrose; these are just different kinds of sugars that are not recommended in higher quantities.

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