Thursday, July 27, 2023

Are Kids Drinking Too Much Sugar?

Children who drink sugary drinks such as soda, juice, and flavored waters may develop obesity, cavities, tooth decay, tooth loss, and other health risks.

Yes, I mentioned flavored water. The majority of people think they are doing a great job by having their child drink "water" but unfortunately, those added flavors usually contain high fructose corn syrup, cane sugar, or agave syrup.  The best way to flavor water is by using natural fresh fruits!

According to WebMD, it is recommended that children should consume less than 6 tablespoons of sugar (25 grams) daily. Just to put that into perspective, one 12-oz can of soda contains 39 grams of sugar.

Below are some healthy alternative drinks for your child:
  1. Regular water
  2. Natural fresh fruit-infused water
  3. Coconut water
  4.  Smoothies -
    1. Kale and pineapple
    2. Spinach and blueberries
    3. Peach and cauliflower
    4. Strawberries and beets 
      1. Blended with un-sweetened non-dairy or dairy milk
      2. It can include add-ins like hemp seeds, cocoa powder, unsweetened coconut, avocados, etc.
  5. Regular cow milk
  6. Unsweetened plant-based milk (coconut, hemp, almond, soy, etc.)
  7. Herbal teas (check with your primary care physician first)

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