Let us look at a few facts about these three ingredients to help us determine our future choices on what we feed our kids.
Refined Sugar
Ingesting 100 grams of simple sugar lowers white blood cell activity for up to five hours. Lowered white blood cell activity means your immune system and its ability to fight infection, is impaired.
When sugar is constantly in the diet, the pancreas must constantly produce insulin. When sugar is continually overused, the pancreas eventually wears out and is no longer able to clear sugar from the blood, and diabetes is often the result.
High Fructose Corn Syrup
High fructose corn syrup is a liver toxin. It is metabolized in the body the same way alcohol is metabolized. Drinking a can of soda does the same thing to your liver that drinking a can of beer does.
When the fructose breaks down in your body, it causes fatty liver disease which raises your cholesterol, and it actually deactivates a substance in your body that prevents high blood pressurre.
Aspartame
Aspartame is made up of three chemicals: Aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol. This toxic poison changes into formaldehyde in the body and has been linked to migraines, seizures, vision loss and symptoms relating to lupus, Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis and other health destroying conditions.
HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES
Though your kids may crave the sweet stuff it is your job to provide them with the proper nutrition. The following are some healthy alternatives to the popular snacks.
Whole Fruits
Eating whole fruits does not cause the same problem as high fructose corn syrup and table sugar, because the fruits contain vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants which help metabolize the fructose. Try making fruit kebabs, frozen fruit bites or fruit smoothies.
Peanut Butter
Peanut butter contains fairly high quantities of dietary fiber, amounting to about 8%, which again helps in regulating both blood cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Be sure to seek out brands that do not contain trans fat, hydrogenated oils, or preservatives. Try combinations such as peanut butter and celery with a topping of raisins or peanut butter oatmeal bites.
Yogurt
Try feeding your kids, natural or fruit yogurt that does not contain refined sugar, high fructose corn syrup or aspartame. The lactobacillus in yoghurt feeds the intestines maximizing the nutrients your body can absorb, insures the digestive system stays healthy, and stabilizes the immune system. Try making yoghurt lollipops, yogurt and granola or yogurt and fruits.
Humus
Chickpeas (channa) is the main ingredient in humus dip. Chickpeas, like most beans, are an excellent source of fibre that digests slowly and keeps blood sugar levels from rising too rapidly. Chickpeas also contain molybdenum, a trace mineral that helps the body detoxify sulphites, as well as iron and manganese, which are essential for healthy blood and high energy. Try combining humus dips with raw vegetables such as carrots, celery or cucumber.
Parents please keep in mind that just because a product is marketed for a child does not mean that your children’s best interest is at heart. Most companies focus on profit, not on what’s healthy. Your focus is to pay attention to what we give our kids to eat and make a variety of healthy choices available to them.
Knowledge is power. Teach your kids about nutrition and the effects of bad health choices, this will help them to make better decisions when you’re not around.
This article was consolidated by the non profit organization KIND (Kids In Need of Direction) using collective articles on food and nutrition.
For more info on how you can improve the lives of children in Trinidad and Tobago call 626-KIND or 626-NEED or visit us at http://www.kindkids.net/.
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