Waukeshahealthinsurance.com-
–
The holiday season is upon us and it's easy for a kid's sweet tooth to go wild. However, new research suggests that reducing how much sugar young children consume may be beneficial.
A study was published on Friday in the journal Science Reducing sugar in the 1,000 days after conception – during pregnancy until age 2 – reduces a child's risk of developing chronic diseases in adulthood.
The researchers found that reducing sugar consumption during this window can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by 35 percent and the risk of high blood pressure by 20 percent. They also found a disease delay of four and two years, respectively.
The research team looked at data before and after the end of the UK's World War II sugar rationing in September 1953.
In January 1940, the United Kingdom began Classification Allowing “fair shares” for the country during wartime shortages, according to the Imperial War Museums. Access to foods such as sugar, fat, bacon, meat and cheese was limited.
When the rationing of sugar and sweeteners ended in September 1953, the average adult's daily sugar consumption in the UK immediately doubled, from 40g to 80g.
The researchers collected health data from UK BiobankA large biomedical database and research resource that follows people over a long period of time to determine the effects of such a large increase in sugar intake, before and after the diet ended, in 60,183 participants born between October 1951 and March 1956.
Tadeja Graeckner, a senior economist at the Center for Economic and Social Research at the University of Southern California, who led the study, said, “The sugar ratio created an interesting natural experiment.”
A six-year analysis showed a 30% reduction in obesity in children conceived or born during the diet, a rapid increase in type 2 diabetes and an increase in blood pressure in those who ended the diet.
The study also found that limiting sugar consumption in utero and early life can reduce the “lifelong preference” for sweets, with prenatal nutrition alone accounting for a third of the risk reduction.
“From the time we're born, we're wired to like sweet things,” said Dr. Mark Corkins, MD, chief of pediatrics and professor of pediatrics at the Tennessee Health Science Center, who was not involved in the new research.
For centuries, people have turned to fruit to satisfy their sweet cravings while getting vitamins and minerals along the way. Now, more people prefer chocolate cake than peach because the sugar is refined and processed at a higher level, he said. These high consumption rates quickly affect our body.
“When you consume more sugar, it changes the way your metabolism works, and you start storing it and saving it,” says Corkins. “We were made to save food for times of famine. Since we no longer have periods of starvation, we now store them as fat.
Sugar intake in the US is “extremely high,” he said.
According to the federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-25Anyone 2 or older should limit their daily intake of added sugars to less than 10% of total calories. Following these guidelines can be difficult, Gracner said.
“Added sugar is everywhere, even in baby and toddler foods, and kids are bombarded with TV commercials for sugar-sweetened foods,” Graeckner said. “While improving nutrition knowledge among parents and caregivers is key, we need to hold companies accountable for reformulating children's diets with healthier options and regulating the marketing and pricing of sugary foods targeted at children.”
The researchers found that pregnant and lactating mothers were consuming more than three times the recommended amount of sugar, averaging more than 80 grams per day.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that many children age 1 to 5 They don't get enough fruits and vegetables every day, but they regularly consume sugary drinks.
Get Health's weekly newsletter
Corkins says one way parents can reduce sugar consumption in young children is to change their own habits.
“The number one influence is the parents,” he said. “They see what their parents eat, and children tend to eat like their parents. If you want your child to have better habits, you must model these habits.
other ways Reducing sugar intake includes replacing sugary drinks with healthier options or cutting them out completely and avoiding sugary foods and drinks at home. The main thing is to practice moderation when using sweet foods.
“We all want to improve our health and give our children the best start in life, and cutting out added sugar early is a great step in that direction,” Graeckner said. “With better information, environments and the right incentives, parents can easily reduce the risk of diabetes for their children and themselves.”