How Too Much Sugar Can Affect Your Child’s Health.

It’s no surprise that too much sugar can cause problems for your kids. From tooth decay, hyperactivity and an increased risk for obesity and type 2 diabetes. Parents can avoid these issues if they watch their kids sugar intake.

Some of the common health problems that too sugar can cause include:

Croup and acid reflux

Some children have recurrent episodes of what looks like croup. These children go to bed seemingly healthy, but wake up during the night with a barking cough and trouble breathing. Generally we find that most of these children have a high sugar intake and are often chocolate milk drinkers. The combination of dairy and sugar takes longer to digest and is highly acidic, causing acid reflux-like symptoms and other problems with the esophagus and even the vocal cords. The key is moderation, not sugar every day.

Weakened immunity

Good bacteria found in your gut helps you digest food, produce vitamins and protect it from germs and disease. But when kids consume too much sugar, it can alter the balance between good and bad bacteria and weaken their immune systems.. So although your children may still get frequent colds, their symptoms may be reduced if their sugar intake is also reduced.

Poor Diet

Children who snub fruits, vegetables and other healthy fare may not be picky eaters after all. They might just be loading up on too much sugar which can cause stomach aches and poor appetite.

Reducing the amount of sugar your child consumes is important. Whether they have symptoms or not, it’s important to keep track of your child’s sugar intake and make sure they are staying healthy.