Taking sweets from a child is supposed to be so simple that the phrase has even become a well-known saying. But how easy is it to wean your kids off the sugary stuff?
The TV cartoon The Simpsons once brilliantly satirised the power of sugar. While a sugar-ban in the fictional town of Springfield saw the children writhing in agony with withdrawal symptoms, Homer Simpson cashed-in with a bootlegging racket. It’s an amusing idea for a storyline, but one that also reflects hard facts where child health is concerned.
In January 2016, Public Health England (PHE) reported that British children were consuming three times as much sugar as they should — roughly 22kgs per year. That’s the average body weight of a five-year-old. And although the health problems relating to excess sugar are well-documented, it isn’t just becoming fat that’s the issue — it’s where sugar encourages our bodies to store it. Excess sugar has been shown to contribute to the build-up of harmful fat around the vital organs, which is linked to developing illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and some cancers.1 This is why the government’s plan to introduce a tax on sugary drinks by 2018 was welcomed by campaigners — the most high-profile being celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, who had already introduced a levy on sugary drinks in his restaurants.
But critics argue that the reality of the problem is that sugar isn’t just found in fizzy drinks. Sugar is everywhere; and short of putting blinkers on your child or never letting them leave the house again (no, we don’t recommend that!) how can you stop them from wanting it?
Nutritionist Gabriella Clarke of Mind Health Movement advocates looking objectively at sugar, cutting down gently, and replacing blatantly sugary items with healthier choices.
Denne historien er fra Summer 2016-utgaven av Optimum Nutrition.
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Denne historien er fra Summer 2016-utgaven av Optimum Nutrition.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Summer Of
Summer is when we want to be out and about, as the warm embrace of the sofa on a cold winter’s night becomes a distant memory. So where do you go when the brain is willing but the body just can’t cut it at the same level of performance that it managed decades ago? Graeme Wilcockson reviews a few ways to satisfy those competitive weekend instincts that will tax both mind and body — yet leave you able to move on Monday morning
Common Kitchen Practices Making Us Sick
Every year, thousands of us fall sick from food poisoning because of how we have handled food. Louise Scodie and Louise Wates look at common ways in which we are going wrong
Could Antioxidants Save Our Bacan?
Nitrates and nitrites have long been linked to cancer. We look at how they are part of a chain reaction that may not always be harmful to human health... So what’s the case with bacon?
Eat For A Glow That Is More Than Skin Deep
Now that summer is here, it’s time to peel off the layers and make some vitamin D. But if your skin isn’t as peachy as you would like, or if you are worried about staying safe in the sun, find out how good nutrition may support your skin’s health. Maggie Charlesworth writes
Natural Beauty
If headlines about microbeads from cosmetics polluting our seas have got you wondering how you can do your bit for the environment, try using nature’s harvest to feed your skin. Hannah Maryse Robinson writes
A Summer Selection Of Goods And Goodies
Lazy Vegan frozen Chunky Pulled Peaz is a gluten-free, plant-based protein source suitable for vegans and — with a substantial texture — flexitarians.
Do Something Different
As many of us are concerned about keeping our brains active, Ellie Smith investigates whether trying something completely new could boost both our brain health and mental wellbeing
Lifting Weights, Lifting Confidence
When Bianca Mills was bullied at school she could not have dreamt that she would be able to speak in front of a group of women, let alone coach them in lifting free weights. She told Louise Wates why she believes buddying-up is just as important as physical strength for fostering confidence
Teaching Children How To Forage
Catherine Morgan finds out how foraging can teach children (and adults) about more than nature’s store cupboard, and can foster an understanding of and respect for the environment.
Keep Calm And Curry On
In August, India celebrates the anniversary of Indian Independence, yet the Anglo-Indian community, a legacy of the British Raj with its roots in European and Indian ancestry, still treads the cultural line between both communities. Jenny Mallin, author of A Grandmother’s Legacy, tells us about the fusion food in her family and recipes passed down through the generations
