--Buddhist proverb
If you subscribe to Wellness
Wednesdays, then you know that our primary theme is educating parents and kids
about the vital importance of reducing and eliminating the consumption of added
sugars. Added sugars come in all shapes, sizes, and names. Best known is high fructose corn syrup, or
what I refer to as “the evil empire sugar”.
Added sugars are commonly found in foods and drinks such as ketchup,
barbeque sauce, sodas, bread, chips, cookies, fruit drinks, and energy drinks.
American Heart Association
has just issued new guidelines for children and teens recommending that added
sugars be limited to no more than 6 teaspoons (24 grams) a day.
What does this mean for
parents? Time to become a sugar
detective! Take my Sugar Challenge: for the next 3 days, read all food labels to
identify the grams of sugars your kids are consuming. Start educating yourself, if you are not
already doing so, about how much sugar is in processed food. Be aware of foods you buy at the grocery and
also the foods and drinks in restaurants.
Do your kids drink mostly water and milk (great choices) or do they
routinely drink fruit juice and sodas?
An 8 ounce glass of fruit juice has AS MUCH SUGAR as 8 ounces of soda. When
you keep this food diary, you will see how quickly 24 grams can be
consumed.
It is important for parents to remember that there are natural sugars (found in fruit and corn) and added sugars. Both contribute to obesity and diabetes if we consume too much. While watching intake of added sugars is very important, it is equally important to be aware of the total sugars consumed. For more information about
the new guidelines about kids and added sugars, go to heart.org or click here.
In gratitude,
Nancy L. Heinrich, MPH
Founder, Growing Healthy Kids