Cereals, Soda, Candy, Donuts, Gatorade, all of these products have excessive amounts of added sugars, and these are all some of the favorite snacks that children like to eat. As Sy Schlager notes, the problem is added sugar. Excessive sugar intake is linked to heart disease, high cholesterol and a number of other health problems in adolescents and young adults. Now, with 1/3 of children overweight or obese, these health risks are even more critical.
Dr. Sy Schlager: Children Consume Too Much Sugar
Sy Schlager has learned that about 16% of children’s diets are made up of calories from added sugar. Boys tend to eat slightly more sugar than girls (16.3% of calories compared to 15.5% for girls).
Dietary guidelines set out by trusted health professionals like Sy Schlager and the government recommend no more than 5-15% of your daily value of calories coming from added sugar. On average, teenage males take in about 450 calories a day from added sugars, which is about equal to three sodas.
Sy Schlager and the ‘Sugar Problem’ in the U.S.
Dr. Sy Schlager notes that this is a real problem in the United States. Many foods produced and offered have some form of sugar in them, whether it is glucose or high fructose corn syrup. Some school districts have even tried to go as far as banning sugars in their cafeterias and vending machines. Interestingly enough, the majority of sugar consumed is actually done in the home. So what does this tell us about our personal eating habits?
Dr. Sy Schlager: How To Reduce Sugar Intake
Sy Schlager recommends that his patients follow a plan to help reduce sugar intake. It’s often a tough habit to break, but he has come up with a few ways to help get the process started:
- Switch from sports drinks to water. They will accomplish the same end of hydration, with zero added sugar.
- Switch to healthier cereal. Cereal with candy and frosting is more of a dessert than a breakfast. There are plenty of delicious whole grain low sugar cereals out there.
- Stop drinking soda daily. While soda is deliciously carbonated and sweet, it is not an everyday drink. Diet sodas are also a worthwhile substitute for sweetened sodas. Sy Schlager has instructed prior patients to wean themselves into diet soda by mixing it with regular soda. Over time, most patients were able to make the switch to diet soda with relative ease.
- Stay away from processed foods. This can include jelly, canned fruit, chips, snack bars, and many others.
- When in doubt, read the label. Sy Schlager always notes that the labels don’t lie. The ingredient lists and the nutritional facts can almost always tell you how much sugar is in a product.
Dr. Sy Schlager: The Children Are Our Future
As a respected physician, Sy Schlager understands how important a proper and well balanced diet is toward a child’s development. Without proper nutrition, children are at risk for a number of diseases and health risks.
Parents, children look to you for how to act and what to eat. Show them how to take care of their bodies and lead by example.
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