Excess Of Sugary Drinks May Put Kids at Risk
According to a U.S. study, drinking lots of soda, fruit juices and other sugary drinks may put kids’ health at risk, leading to teen obesity and poor health as young as age 13. what you eat does have an impact on your health, and you can see the effects of lifestyle choices even at a young age of 13.
The study showed that by the age of 13, most kids who drank more sugary drinks showed high risk of developing metabolic syndromemetabolic syndrome indicating a person could be headed towards type 2 diabetes, heart disease or stroke. They also showed other risk factors like a big waistline, high blood pressure, and a low level of good HDL cholesterol. These kids were consuming more servings of sweetened beverages like fruit juices, soda, sports drinks and flavored beverages with added sugar.
But it doesn’t mean that juices, sodas and other sugary drinks are totally bad. It just means that too much of these can be bad in the long run. Since there are no kid-sized soda or cola bottles, and no 6-ounce glasses at home, the kids get used to drinking in whatever size is available for adults. And moreover, kids who drink sugared drinks do not drink sufficient milk, thus leading to calcium deficiency. Too many sugary drinks displace other healthy components of a child’s diet.
These findings could be a wake-up call for parents and may help them in making wise decisions about their children’s food habits. Here are some helpful tips:
- Do not add sugar in fruit juices. Keep it as natural as possible.
- Cut down your intake of colas and sodas. They contain empty calories and may make you obese.
- Opt for healthier foods such as milk and fresh fruits.
Get more information on healthy eating habits in children.