According to a study published in the world famous journal 'Science', if sugar is not given to the baby for the first 1000 days after birth, the risk of developing chronic diseases in adult life can be reduced. These early days also include the days when the baby is growing in the womb. This means that the mother has to reduce sugar in her diet from the day of conception.
This study found that if children are not fed sugar early in life, the risk of developing type-2 diabetes can be reduced by up to 35%. The risk of obesity can be reduced by 30% and the risk of high blood pressure by 20%. Apart from this, age-related diseases are also delayed by a few years.
According to a study published in Science Direct in June 2018, sugar intake at a young age can affect children's mental and physical development. It can also increase the risk of early puberty and neurological diseases.
So, today' Health water ' we will learn how sugar affects the developmental age of children. You will also know that-
- How does sugar affect brain and body development?
- How can we reduce sugar from children's diets?
Rich countries around the world have made regulations regarding baby food
The richest and most developed countries in the world have made strict regulations regarding baby food. It has been clarified that sugar should not be used in the food of children under two years of age. This is because of the effect of excess sugar on children's physical and mental development. Which countries have banned added sugar in baby food, see graphic:
This means that if a food company wants to sell its baby food here, the product must be sugar free.
How does sugar affect children's development? According to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, even very small amounts of sugar in the diet of children under the age of 2 are harmful. In fact, this hampers the mental and physical development of children. They may also have problems with gaining weight in 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 occur, see in the graphic:
This concern about sugar in children's diets is not limited to studies and research. Due to which very disappointing figures are coming up.
Obesity is a growing problem among young children The problem of obesity among children is becoming common in the last few years. According to the WHO, in the year 2022, around 37 million children under the age of 5 worldwide were overweight, while around 39 million children between the ages of 5 and 19 were overweight. Obesity at such a young age means that these children are at risk of many lifestyle diseases even before adolescence. They are also at risk of many chronic diseases.
Cases of diabetes in young children are on the rise According to Statista data, around 6 lakh 52 thousand children are suffering from type 1 diabetes all over the world. Worryingly, about 3 lakh 56 thousand cases have been reported in the year 2021 itself.
Why are young children addicted to sweets? Food companies around the world use added sugars in most of their baby food products because sweetness appeals to children. This is the reason why it is often desired and the products of the companies are popular. Recently, questions were raised on Nestlé's baby food. The company was selling baby food with added sugar.
Dr. RD Srivastava says that the mind of young children cannot think about their own good and bad. Their reasoning power is also not developed. So they cannot decide for themselves what to eat and what not to eat.
They don't even know how eating something will affect their health. So, as parents and guardians, this is our responsibility. They have to be given 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 feeding the child Dr. Mark Hyman is a well-known health practitioner in America. Dr. Hyman attributed more than 70% of modern diseases to people's lifestyles and food systems. They say don't give control of your health to the medical system.
They say that children's memory and habits are formed by observing things happening around them. If they grow up seeing that people eat fruits and vegetables when they are hungry, they will insist on eating fruits and vegetables instead of chocolate when they are hungry.
We have to create an environment around them that has no place for sugary foods. Also, some of the baby's test buds start developing in the womb. Therefore, a mother should eat a very balanced and healthy diet right from the time of pregnancy. Parents should keep in mind the following –
- A pregnant mother should ensure that she does not eat sugary foods.
- Give the baby only milk, fruits and boiled vegetables.
- If the baby does not drink milk, do not make the mistake of adding sugar to it for convenience.
Healthy love and affection Many a times, mothers, uncles or aunts lovingly bring chocolates for children. In such a situation, it is the responsibility of the parents to talk about this with all the relatives. Explain to them how conscious you are about your child's diet and how they should support it.
Dr. Hyman offers some suggestions for this. See graphic:
The result of this food culture will be that all these things will be stored in the child's mind as primary memory. If he wants to eat something sweet in future, he will buy fruits. If he wants to visit a child, he will carry fruits and vegetables. This is how the tradition we are starting today will continue and develop a beautiful and healthy society.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
