Sugar Overload in Kids Causes Major Health Problems

A brand new examine from the Queensland University of Technology confirmed the hazards of sugar overload in kids. The Australian analysis on mice discovered that kids who overindulge in sugar danger lifelong health results. They have a higher danger of weight problems, hyperactivity, and cognitive impairment in maturity. The examine was printed by Frontiers in Neuroscience on June 7.

The findings additionally revealed some constructive information, nevertheless. When researchers gave the mice smaller day by day doses of sucrose, their danger of sugar-induced weight achieve and different health points decreased. The outcomes help WHO pointers calling for a drastic sugar discount for kids and adults alike.

One of the lead authors, QUT neuroscientist Professor Selena Bartlett, revealed the seriousness of the sugar overload epidemic. She says many kids, adolescents, and adults in greater than 60 nations, together with Australia, eat far an excessive amount of sugar. Most individuals in these nations eat over 4 instances the sugar (100g) beneficial by the World Health Organization (25g per individual per day).

“More work needs to be done in the investigation of the long-term effects of sugar on adolescents and adults, but our results with the mouse model are very promising,” mentioned Professor Bartlett.

“Recent evidence shows obesity and impulsive behaviors caused by poor dietary habits leads to further overconsumption of processed food and beverages, but the long-term effects on cognitive processes and hyperactivity from sugar overconsumption, beginning at adolescence, are not known” mentioned Professor Bartlett.

Sugar overload causes important, adverse bodily and psychological health adjustments

“Our study found long-term sugar consumption (a 12-week period with the mice which started the trial at five weeks of age) at a level that significantly boosts weight gain, elicits an abnormal and excessive stimulation of the nervous system in response to novelty. It also alters both episodic and spatial memory. These results are like those reported in attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders.

“Human trials would need to be done, but it suggests a link to the long-term overconsumption of sugar, beginning at a young age, which occurs more commonly in the Western Diet and an increased risk of developing persistent hyperactivity and neurocognitive deficits in adulthood,” she mentioned.

Some specialists have cited sugar as a substance of abuse, very similar to medication and alcohol. In truth, one examine discovered that sugar is eight times more addictive than cocaine. While scientists still debate the concept of ‘sugar addiction,’ it’s clear that sugar impacts brain functioning. Brain scans show that sugar consumption and drug abuse affect similar brain circuitry and molecular signaling pathways.

“People consume sugar and food to regulate energy balance, but also for pleasure and comfort. This hedonistic desire for palatable food is reward-driven, and overeating can impact upon and even override our ability to regulate,” Professor Bartlett said.

“It is increasingly considered that unrestricted consumption of high-sugar food and beverages within the Western Diet might be linked to the increased obesity epidemic. A strong association between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders and being overweight or obese have also been revealed.

“Taken together, these data suggest that sugar-induced obesity may participate to the developing pathogenesis of ADHD-like symptoms in western countries. In children, high sugar consumption correlates with hyperactivity and in adults, with inattention and impulsivity,” she says.

The study confirms sugar overload impacts health far into adulthood

“What has been unclear, though, is whether chronic overconsumption of sucrose — starting from childhood — would have the same negative impact on our nervous system, emotions, or cognition throughout adulthood as other addictive drugs,” Bartlett said.

The study on mice revealed the answer for the first time in scientific history. Long-term sugar consumption in childhood causes dramatic weight gain, hyperactivity, and cognitive impairment in adulthood.

Co-lead author Dr. Arnauld Belmer commented about an interesting observation he made. Since the 1990s, overall sugar consumption has decreased. However, in that same timeframe, obesity rates have skyrocketed. So, is sugar still to blame for the obesity crisis?

“This rise in obesity rates could result from a delayed effect of excess sugar, suggesting that adult obesity may be driven by high sugar intake over a life span,” Dr. Belmer said.

“Interestingly, our investigation with the mice found reducing the daily sucrose intake four-fold did prevent sugar-induced increase in weight gain, supporting the WHO’s recommendation to restrict sugar intake by this amount would be effective. It could also limit the other negative consequences including hyperactivity and cognitive impairment.”

A few statistics on the sugar overload in America

 The average American eats over 150 pounds of sugar per year.

• An average American child consumes over 228 pounds of sugar per year.
• The average American consumes over 146 pounds of flour per year.
• Flour raises blood sugar even more than sugar.

So, how much sugar should we eat?

According to the CDC, Americans 2 years and older should keep sugar consumption to 10% or much less of their day by day energy. So, in the event you eat 2,000 energy per day, not more than 200 energy ought to come from added sugars (about 12 teaspoons). Data reveals that in 2017-18, kids and adults ate a median of 17 teaspoons of sugar per day. Most of those energy got here from sugary drinks, desserts, and snacks.

If we need to cease the sugar overload, it boils all the way down to our day by day selections. Always go for contemporary, complete meals as an alternative of processed, sugary snacks. Avoid sugar-sweetened drinks as properly, as liquid energy add up in a short time. Also, don’t fall for the “healthy” drinks like smoothies and fruit juices, as your body treats all sugar equally.

• Drink extra water as an alternative of sodas.
• Do your teenagers drink espresso or tea? Encourage them to skip including sweeteners to their espresso or tea.
• Teach them to decide on a chunk of naturally candy fruit over baked treats.
• Prep healthy snacks kids can tackle the go. They is not going to really feel tempted to choose up a sweet bar for a day increase.
• Watch for hidden sugar in baked items like bread or bagels.
• Do the kids really feel tempted to snack on a candy deal with out of boredom? Go for a stroll collectively! Distraction with train can hold individuals out of the cookie jar.

You will develop accustomed to those small adjustments after a number of days. Soon, these will change into lifelong healthy habits.

Final ideas on a examine confirming the accuracy of WHO pointers on the sugar overload epidemic

Kids and adults alike eat far an excessive amount of sugar on account of trendy diets. Most of our meals comes from labs these days, and these extremely processed food-like substances have a great deal of sugar. They’re extra handy, however we pay for it with health issues down the street.

WHO pointers and the Australian examine have made it clear that chopping down on sugar improves health. Your cognitive efficiency, weight, and nervous system will all profit from consuming much less sugar.