The health drink advertisements on TV promise to make your child stronger and taller, but are you sure that is actually what happens? Unfortunately, that does not happen at all and your child is susceptible to many health problems because of the excessive amounts of sugar they have from these drinks. What are these dangers and why should you stay away from these drinks? Read on to know more.
Dangers of excessive sugar intake in kids
As stated, the health drinks that are widely sold contain high levels of sugar. When your child consumes this is a daily basis, the following health problems may show up:
- Childhood obesity –
Childhood obesity is one of the biggest lifestyle issues that plague thousands of families these days. An overweight child faces many challenges and grows up with health problems as well. There is fat accumulation in the arteries of the heart which don’t easily go. As a result, childhood obesity should be avoided at all costs. Health drinks contribute to this deadly condition and so should be avoided. - Tooth decay –
Tooth decay is another dangerous health risk of consuming too much sugar. Children get their permanent teeth by the time they are seven or eight years old, so the damage begins right then. The teeth get damaged due to cavities and a lot of gum-related problems happen too. - Drop-in appetite –
Sugar is high in carbohydrates and so it makes the child feel full. Consequently, he or she refuses to eat proper meals and this leads to improper nutrition. This is another crucial reason why you should not allow your children to consume these health drinks. - Fussy eaters –
Because health drinks are very delicious in taste (mainly due to the added flavours), your children become fussy eaters. They expect the same amount of taste in every food they eat, which is an unrealistic demand. Control this from the onset so that your kids learn to eat everything. - Sleep problems –
Excessive sugar can make children more energetic. If they have a large serving of the health drink in the evening, they may find it difficult to fall asleep at night. This can interfere with their sleep patterns and hamper their growth. This is why you should think twice before you introduce these drinks to your kids.
Encourage healthy food habits
As parents, it is your duty to encourage your kids to eat healthily. All the nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, calcium, etc that the health drinks promise to provide are naturally available in abundance in the food you eat on a regular basis. Teach your children to eat fresh fruits and vegetables on a regular basis. Also, encourage them to drink plain milk. Once they get used to the sweet health drink taste, they will refuse plain milk, so try not to introduce the drinks at all. Keep your kids healthy, be active and they will grow up to be strong adults.
