Why You Need to Stop Giving Your Children Sugar

It has the same addictive qualities as cocaine

Would you give your children cocaine?

Obviously not.

Did you know that by giving them sugar, you're giving them a substance that is more addictive than cocaine?

Most of us are unaware of this because sugar is beautiful, fun, tasty and marketed to our children by food and beverage companies.

Cocaine can kill you in a blink of an eye, whereas sugar can kill you over a lifetime.

Although we can teach our children to limit their sugar intake by telling them when they've had enough, we may not always be able to keep them away from it. Most people are unaware of the dangers of sugar and how food companies use it to mask chemicals and neutralize flavours in many of our food items.

The problem is sugar is unavoidable if you're uneducated about how dangerous it truly is.

What is sugar?

Sugar is a class of molecules called carbohydrates found in many food items such as bread, pasta, tomato sauce, ketchup, cereals, flavoured water, and much more.

It's also a crafty substance because it has many different names: fructose, lactose, maltose, glucose, dextrose, and anything that ends in "ose." That's why it is essential to check the label on your food items.

More names include high fructose corn syrup, raw sugar, honey, maple syrup and starch.

Glucose is one of our primary fuel sources for energy, and without it, we wouldn't survive. We can acquire glucose molecules from natural food sources such as fruits and vegetables, which is healthy, but it becomes a problem when we refine the sugar molecule and add it to our food items.

Why is it a problem?

When children and adults consume too much sugar, they crave it because of the excessive amount of leptin, a hormone that regulates sugar cravings.

When too much of this hormone is released into the blood, the body will not be able to communicate with the brain properly to let the child know they are full.

Instead, the body becomes resistant to leptin due to the excessive release of the hormone and sugar is metabolized and stored as fat.

When we allow children to overeat refined sugar, it spikes their blood glucose levels, causes inflammation, and can result in slow cogitative function and attention.

As they grow into adults, their metabolism slows down, and the hippocampus part of the brain begins to shrink (memory center), which is now known as Alzheimer's — type 3 diabetes.

Sugar could also potentially cause diabetes in both children and adults. In Canada, diabetes has doubled between 2000 to 2010 from 1.3 million to 2.3 million. As of March 2022, it continues to increase at 11.7 million, costing the Country 30 billion per year in health care expenses.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children take no more than six teaspoons of added sugar per day but unfortunately, the average child is consuming 27 teaspoons daily.

One can of pop provides them with 8–12 teaspoons of sugar.

Sugar and cocaine have the same addictive qualities

According to a study done with rats, they have the same addictive qualities, but sugar is more addictive than cocaine.

Researchers filled two levers, one with sugar water and the other with cocaine. After experimenting with the rats for eight days, the rats preferred the sugar water over the cocaine lever.

Addiction occurs because of the reward center in the brain that releases a neurotransmitter called dopamine. Dopamine is associated with pleasure and feeling good. So, when children indulge in too much sugar, they receive the same pleasure as adults taking cocaine.

I can resonate with these findings, when my children were toddlers, I noticed that every time they had too much sugar, they would experience a sugar high. Their eyes would pop wide open, becoming hyperactive, running around and sweating and then, of course, the comedown.

If you've ever tried cocaine, you will know how familiar these same symptoms are—always leaving you craving for more, just like sugar.

How to limit sugar intake for your children

Start buying quality food. The misconception is that whole food is expensive, and yes, that is true, but you have to ask yourself, is paying a little more for higher quality food worth it? Especially if you are buying perception drugs for your children's health problems.

• If you start to replace packaged foods with more fruits and vegetables, it will not cost you that much more.
• Removing sweetened sugar beverages such as processed juices, juice boxes, soda pop and flavoured water. These are known as liquid sugar, and it's one of the most popular yet worst beverages you can give to your children. ( Make your own flavoured water with cucumbers, lemons, berries or mint)
• Pair healthy fats with fruits to keep their blood sugar in control. An apple with almond butter sprinkled with cinnamon.
• Bake your own baked goods; numerous recipes online promote healthy baking, from power cookies, granola, and muffins. Swap out sugar for unsweetened apple sauce, add flax and chia seeds, and almond flour instead of traditional bleached flour.
• Read ingredients on food labels, and if you don't recognize the words or there is a lot that ends with "ose," then don't buy it.
• Switch from using wheat pasta loaded with sugar to bean or vegetable pasta.
• Mostly ask yourself if this food comes from mother earth? Or man?

As parents, we want to do everything we can to make sure our children grow up as healthy and happy as possible.

By educating yourself about the dangers of sugar, you will help your children mentally, emotionally and physically when it comes to their health.

Most importantly, remember it isn't always your fault if your child is overeating sugar; it's often hidden in processed foods. Many foods and beverage companies also promote sugar, which results in higher sugar consumption.

Occasionally enjoying sugar can be a treat, such as at birthday parties, Halloween or ice cream parlours.

As the saying goes, everything in moderation.

Disclaimer: Jennifer Pitts is a certified nutritional practitioner. This article is for educational purposes only and does not replace the advice of a doctor.

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