Ensuring a Healthy Start
As parents, we want to be able to give our children the best start in life. We try to choose the best schools, encourage healthy habits, and ensure they get the right balance of learning and play. But what about the food they eat?
In recent years there has been a growing concern about sugars and food colouring, and their effects on the health and behaviors of children. Unfortunately, these products are very common in many foods today, in fact they have become more or less ingrained in our culture. What harm are they doing though? New research suggests they might be contributing to some alarming effects.
The Impact of Sugar
Nowadays sugar is a large part of many children’s diets as it is readily found in snacks, soft drinks, and even in foods marked as ‘healthy’. Take some time when you next visit a supermarket to read the backs of some labels, and I don’t mean chocolate bars, but foods that you wouldn’t expect there to be sugar in…you will be surprised at what you find. Eating too many of these foods can cause problems, both in the short and long term:
1 – Hyperactivity and behavioural changes
How many times have you heard parents saying their children have gone wild after a sugary drink or snack, or have bursts of irritability and mood swings? This is called ‘the sugar rush’. Research shows that too much sugar affects a child’s ability to concentrate, especially in school or during any task that requires a child to focus.
2 – Obesity and health problems
Another worrying fact about sugar consumption is connected to childhood obesity. High sugar diets are linked to weight gain, increased risk of type 2 diabetes, dental problems, and heart disease. Many countries have now stated that child obesity is linked to the overconsumption of sugary foods and drinks.
3 – Sleep disruption
A child that consumes large amounts of sugar, especially before bed, can experience sleep disruption. Sugar can give them a sudden spike in energy which makes it difficult for them to wind down, and subsequently means they struggle to sleep. This pattern of poor sleep will effect their mood the following day, and likewise their concentration at school.
The Hidden Dangers of Food Dye
Colours are obviously appealing to children, a fact the food industry know all too well. Many drinks, snacks, and food in general that are intended for children are loaded with colourings. Unfortunately, those sweets, drinks, and cereals your kids enjoy so much, as well as being laden with sugar, also contain food colourings:
1 – ADHD
Several studies have suggested a link between artificial food dyes and hyperactivity in children, especially those diagnosed with ADHD. Some food colourings like yellow (E110), and tartrazine (E102), have been flagged for their behavioural effect and can worsen the symptoms of children with ADHD.
2 – Allergic reactions
Some children might even experience allergic reactions which can range from a mild skin rash to more severe reactions such as difficulty breathing. They are rare, but there is a potential risk nonetheless.
3 – Impact on the brain
More studies need to be done on this point, but there is a growing concern that regular consumption of these additives along with other chemicals found in processed food, could affect the function of the brain.
So What Have We Learned?
It can be overwhelming having to constantly read food labels and their ingredients, especially when things are often hidden. However, reducing the quantity of sugar in your child’s diet could make a huge difference in so many ways, so what’s the best way to approach this?
- Read food labels carefully and get to know your ingredients
- Choose natural alternatives to the foods you usually buy
- Limit sugary drinks
- Cook more at home and try to avoid processed food like ready meals and fastfoods.
- If you must eat surgary foods then limit portions.
Doing all these things can make a huge different in your child’s life, and your whole family’s. Children can have the occasional treat, but allowing sugar on a daily basis as part of their diet can really impact their health. This if course can be even hard at certain times of the year such as Christmas and of course Trick or Treat at Halloween. Of course there has to be compromise, but there are also other ways of approaching times like these, for example have you heard of The Switch Witch?
For more info on research related to this article read here.