Why We Need to Reduce Our Kids Sugar Intake Now
It seemed like there was so much more of it than at other parties, in other years. Maybe it was because I was paying better attention. But I couldn’t believe all the junk food. It was as if the evil witch’s house from Hansel and Gretel had crash-landed in my son’s third grade classroom. I had the urge to start picking through the rubble looking for ruby slippers. (Wait, I’m confusing my fairy tales, aren’t I?)
I know I was complicit in this edible crime, having brought something sweet and tasty for the kids to gobble up. Of course that’s what we do: we want to make a contribution to our kids’ fun and often this results in loads of sugar. We joke about our kids getting hyped up on it on occasions of all kinds…each time telling ourselves It’s just this once. It’s part of the growing up experience…diving into a pillow case of Halloween loot and indulging at a classroom party.
But it’s not just this once. It’s several times a year. And our call to action as parents needs to be to put an end to sugar equaling happiness and fun. Now. For our kids sake. And ours.
It’s time to fight public enemy #1 to reduce the risk of #2: sugar can cause chronic and terminal illness and is listed as number one of the top 32 things linked to cancer (the second most-common cause of death in the U.S.), as reported in an article on businessinsider.com.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Sugar fuels cancer cells. And we all think our kids love the sugar. It turns out, kids’ talent for sucking down Halloween candy is no match for cancer. PET scans, a special type of CT scan uses small doses of radioactive material bonded to glucose (a form of sugar). This “cocktail” causes cancer cells to “light up,” which helps doctors track the progression of the disease. Why does this work? Cancer cells crazy-love sugar, which fuels its growth and spread, known as metastasis. And cancer cells are smart: they process sugar more efficiently than healthy, normal cells by changing their metabolism. This is why most cancer patients die from spread of their cancer, not from the primary tumor.
- Obesity is the middle man. Whether a high-sugar diet causes cancer directly has not been established, but we do know that obesity is a risk for developing the disease. Obesity is on the rise, with 18.5 percent of U.S. children affected and more than a third of adults, so the risk of a cancer diagnosis is, too.
- ...And sugar plays a major role in obesity. Here’s how: When we eat simple sugar…found in sweet treats and hidden in “healthy” protein bars and yogurt, the sugar signals the pancreas to release the hormone insulin. Insulin then signals cells take in sugar and the blood sugar drops, rapidly if a lot of sugar is eaten at once. The “hungries” result, and we crave a quick fix, which is typically another high-sugar snack. A vicious cycle continues and as the body’s sugar load increases, insulin levels do, too, and the body starts to store the sugar as fat instead of using it as an immediate source of fuel. Weight gain is the result.
The take home? Limit your kids (and your) intake of sugar (table sugar, fructose corn syrup, etc.). This is easier said than done, especially with hidden sources of sugar present in the typical American diet. Next week, I’ll share some tips for reducing the sweet stuff.
Links/sources:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130201100149.htm
https://www.cnn.com/2017/10/27/health/sugar-cancer-relationship-study/index.html
https://www.oncologynutrition.org/erfc/healthy-nutrition-now/sugar-and-cancer/
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/cancer/here-s-how-sugar-might-fuel-growth-cancer-n488456
