Harmful Effects of Sugar by Kristine Rustand

10/18/2011

Harmful Effects of Sugars

There has been much controversy over the years arguing whether sugar is or is not harmful to our bodies. When researching we find doctors who suggest there are no harmful effects while other doctors will list up to 150 reasons sugar is harmful.  Some of the proven reasons that sugar is literally ruining our health is that it feeds cancer, increases cholesterol, causes food allergies and diabetes, leads to eczema, contributes to osteoporosis, weakens eye sight, suppresses the immune system, can cause tooth decay, depression, and migraines. For a full list go to www.rheumatoid.org/sugar.htm

As the debate continues, we can look beyond the research and into the behaviors of our own children and the effects we see.  In being conscious of my family’s nutrition I can say with 100% honesty the only two times my 3 year old has thrown herself to the ground with a temper tantrum has been after a family visit where she was sugar loaded with juice, candy and other treats.  The Yale Guide to Children’s Nutrition explains behavioral changes directly when they suggest,

<!–[if !supportLists]–>•   <!–[endif]–>“…To a great extent it has to do with the processes of digestion and absorption.  Simple sugars require little digestion, and when a child eats a sweet food, such as a candy bar or a can of soda, the glucose level of the blood rises rapidly. In response, the pancreas secretes a large amount of insulin to keep blood glucose levels from rising too high. This large insulin response in turn tends to make the blood sugar fall to levels that are too low 3 to 5 hours after the candy bar or can of soda has been consumed. This tendency of blood glucose levels to fall may then lead to an adrenaline surge, which in turn can cause nervousness and irritability.  The same roller-coaster ride of glucose and hormone levels is not experienced after eating complex carbohydrates or after eating a balanced meal because the digestion and absorption processes are much slower.  If you think about it, this is incredibly interesting because it shows that the foods you eat and the way you eat them can affect your mood and your temperament. Foods do that by affecting the levels of different hormones in your bloodstream over time.”

If you are a new mom and want to promote a healthy nutrition, a good suggestion is to have your baby to eat his/her vegetables before offering any fruit.  If your baby can recognize and enjoy vegetables first then their chances of eating their vegetables as a toddler, child and teen increases dramatically.  Be mindful of baby food that is a dessert such as fruit medleys. They can carry up to 15g of sugar.   If you were to feed your baby these desserts, don’t be surprised when their palette is set to the added sweetness and he/she starts refusing to eat vegetables.  The best option is always to have homemade baby food.

As parents we tend to put more emphasis into our baby’s nutrition.  Consider a fast food restaurant and how often you see a 9 month old with French fries, compared to a 2 year old.  For the average family after a baby turns 1 or 2 years old, all focus on healthy nutrition stops, and we become ‘too busy’ to make healthy decisions.  We move into simple snacks such as fruit snacks, granola bars, and fruit roll ups.  What was once a weekly treat is now given at every snack.  These snacks then become the staple of many children’s nutrition at the elementary and jr. high grades.  Sadly enough the average teen’s diet is 20% sugar and it’s not even a food group.   

Nutrition starts with us as parents.  It starts when our baby is first born and it continues through every year of their life.  It takes work to prepare proper nutrition, but your work will be rewarded with balanced hormones, a more content and happier child who sleeps better, has balanced emotions and thought processes.  When your child reaches school age he/she will also have an increased ability to focus, concentrate, and remember things.  In wanting the best for our children proper nutrition is the beginning for many great things to come.

Kristine Rustand

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