Consumption of excess sugar can trigger the risk of heart ailments in children, as revealed by a recent study conducted by US-based Emory University. Apart from heart ailments and damages to immune system, rise in blood pressure level and obesity are the other common issues that children suffer from with excessive intakes of added sugar.
A typical American child is found to have sugar intake which is 3 times more than the recommended quantity, Miriam Vos, the lead author of the study, said.
"Our target recommendation is the same for all children between the ages of two and 18 to keep it simple for parents and public health advocates. For most children, eating no more than six teaspoons of added sugars per day is a healthy and achievable target," Vos stated in the study.
The American Heart Association (AHA) states that the majority of food in America includes added sugars like fructose, the table sugar and honey. Almost all food and beverages that children consume contain sugar in it.
The AHA focused on the fact that sugar should not be included in the diet of children below 2 years of age. Limited quantity of sugar intake by children and teenagers are preferred to avoid any health issues.
The organisation even stated that obese children, who continue consuming added sugar in huge quantities, are likely to become insulin resistant, which will make them prone to type-2 diabetes.
Vos noted that children who eat a lot of sugary food often have lesser quantity of healthy foods and drinks, which are crucial for their health and growth.
The research highlighted the fact that the diet of children and teenagers should be nutritious and balanced. Sugar too is important for the body, but its surplus intake should be avoided.
