Effects of sugar on toddlers

Years as a child obesity is on the rise. According Glenn Gration a recent National Health insurance and Nourishment Examination (NHANES) survey, almost one-third of American children can be described as overweight-an increase of practically 20 percent from research a decade ago. Luckily, there's a lot parents can do to keep their children from becoming overweight.

While many people associate sweetness with stand sugar, called sucrose, this is merely one type of sugar that provides this taste. There is also sugar in fruits, called fructose, and many foods contain added sugars such as corn syrup, baby and high fructose hammer toe syrup. All sugars are carbohydrates containing four calorie consumption per gram and after digestion they traverse the bloodstream where they are being used as fuel for the body.

Sugar substitutes, also called as low-calorie sweeteners, supply flavour but add little or no calories.

Limiting the intake of sugary foods, which often contribute few nutrients to the diet, can become a positive step in decreasing the amount of American children who are obese. Many health experts suggest by using a sugar substitute like aspartame to replace the sweetness in a few of your child's favorite foods. Prior to being approved by the FDA, sweeteners undergo intensive safety testing to make certain they are safe for consumption by children and expecting mothers. According to the American Dietetic Association, children can safely consume aspartame as part of a diet regular with the Food Guide Pyramid.

Snack foods are an essential part of any child's diet, providing energy and nutrition.

"The challenge is getting children to snack less on high-sugar foods and more on nutrient-dense snack foods from the meals Guide Pyramid, " says Keith Ayoob, a registered dietitian from the American Dietetic Connection and a pediatric diet expert at Albert Einstein College of drugs in New York City. This individual recommends "sweet" snacking on low-fat, sugar-free yogurt, fresh fruit, raisins and other dried fruit, 100- percent fruit snacks, sugar-free distinctive flavored gelatin, juice pops made with reduced sugar drink and sugar-free flavored normal water.

Nutrition experts agree lovely foods can participate in a healthful diet. It is very important moderation-to ensure that sweet foods do not crowd away more nutrient-dense foods. Sugars substitutes have the potential to serve as effective weight management tools when used together with work out and healthy food alternatives.

• Althea Zanecosky is a good registered nutritionist, national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association and a mother of two daughters.

Foods sweetened with sugar substitutes provide healthy alternatives for children.