SAEDNEWS: Sugar is high in calories and offers very little nutritional value, so it’s important to reduce its intake in children’s diets. In this article, we’ll explore the effects of sugar on children.
According to the Family Service of Saed News, children typically consume sugar at three times the recommended limit, which is a serious health concern. Sugar and salt are notorious as edible toxins worldwide. Excessive sugar intake can cause tooth decay, diabetes, and severe obesity in children. For context, a single piece of chocolate contains as much sugar as six sugar cubes, a packet of juice equals five sugar cubes, and a single soda exceeds the total daily sugar allowance for a child.
How Sugar Affects Children’s Brains
Children are the largest consumers of added sugar. High-sugar diets are linked to obesity, heart disease, and even memory impairment. However, the specific impact of excessive sugar intake during childhood on brain development remains unclear—especially in regions crucial for learning and memory. Recent studies indicate that daily consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages during adolescence can impair learning and memory performance in adulthood. Changes in gut bacteria may play a key role in sugar-induced memory disruptions.
Does Sugar Cause Hyperactivity in Children?
When it comes to sugar’s effects on children, misinformation is widespread. People often associate sugary foods with hyperactivity. Many parents insist that sugar alters their child’s behavior. However, as numerous studies confirm, this is a misconception. Several investigations have examined this, and none have proven that sugar directly causes hyperactivity.
Some children are sensitive to sugar. It can alter neurotransmitters in the brain, potentially causing mood swings. If your child’s behavior seems to change after consuming sugar, it’s wise to limit it or substitute with other sweet options. Sugary foods often contain artificial colors, preservatives, and other stimulants, but hyperactive behavior is more commonly linked to environmental factors and lack of sleep.
How Sugar Impacts a Growing Child
When a child consumes sugar-laden foods, there is less room in their diet for nutrient-dense options such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and lean protein. Excessive sugar intake can also lead to weight gain and increase the risk of obesity-related illnesses later in life. While sugar was once thought to stunt growth, research now shows it does not directly inhibit development. Yet, persistent overconsumption of sweets and sugary products can negatively affect metabolism and the natural secretion of hormones, including growth hormone.
Sugar Consumption and Chronic Disease Risk
Excess sugar during childhood may lead to unhealthy eating habits in adulthood. Overconsumption can cause obesity, increasing the risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes, where the body does not respond properly to insulin. Rapid spikes and drops in blood sugar can also lead to mood swings and even depression. Obesity is further associated with bone and joint issues and certain types of cancer.
Should Parents Eliminate Sugar from a Child’s Diet?
Parents should not completely remove sugar but should focus on reducing its intake. Sweet treats can be an opportunity to teach moderation. Rather than eliminating sweet foods entirely, strategic inclusion—such as adding fruit to yogurt or lightly sweetening homemade baked goods—can promote healthy eating habits.
Recommended Sugar Intake for Children
Ages 4–7: Maximum 12 grams per day (≈3 teaspoons)
Preschoolers: Maximum 16 grams per day (≈4 teaspoons)
Ages 9–15: Maximum 30 grams per day (≈5–8 teaspoons)
Tips for Limiting Sugar Intake
Read nutrition labels carefully: Choose boxed cereals with the least added sugar and select fruits and vegetables over packaged snacks.
Avoid sugary drinks: About half of children’s added sugar comes from sodas, fruit drinks, and sports beverages. Offer water, cow’s milk, or soy milk instead.
Don’t use sweets as rewards: Serve treats for special occasions only, and consider fruits or vegetables as alternatives for celebrations.
Avoid giving candy for comfort: Don’t automatically give your child candy to cheer them up—it can create unhealthy emotional associations with food.
Offer healthier sweets: Satisfy their craving for sweetness with nutritious options, such as fruit slices with yogurt.
Pay attention to the ingredients: Ingredients are listed in descending order by weight. A “nutritious” fruit product listing sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, and fruit concentrate as its top three ingredients clearly contains more sugar than fresh fruit. Watch for these sugar-related terms:
High-fructose corn syrup, fruit juice concentrate, lactose, maltose, sucrose, glucose, dextrose, evaporated cane juice, molasses, malt, malt diastatic, ethyl maltol, maltodextrin, honey
