A breakthrough in nutrition: it became known whether it is possible to ban sweets for children

Adults should not deny children sweets, but it makes sense to limit the consumption of harmful carbohydrates by finding a healthy alternative.

This opinion was expressed by nutritionist Marina Pavlenko in her blog.

"Carbohydrates play an important role in the diet of children of all ages. And the way you build your child's diet, what carbohydrates you choose, and how much you eat will determine the health and development of your child. Unfortunately, many school-age children eat irrationally and unbalanced, and the imbalance of the diet is mainly in the share of carbohydrate dishes and products," the nutritionist said, reminding that children are less prone to obesity and weight gain due to their rapid metabolism and active growth processes.

Also, according to the nutritionist, children have higher compensatory mechanisms and high activity of detoxification systems due to their age. This makes it more difficult to visualize and assess the harmful effects of unhealthy eating on children's bodies. But despite the "hidden" nature of these effects, they accumulate and may have an impact in the future.

"It's no secret that children love sweets – chocolate products, milkshakes, packaged juices, pastries, confectionery, McDonald's, fast food, sugary soda, etc. All of the above products contain a lot of "harmful carbohydrates" or simple sugars. These are substances that are quickly and easily absorbed by the body (due to their fairly simple chemical structure), quickly increase blood sugar, contribute to an increase in insulin levels (compensatory), and, if consumed frequently, contribute to metabolic disorders," the nutritionist said, emphasizing that the energy obtained from such foods is often not fully consumed, which contributes to fat storage in the body.

However, the nutritionist believes that children should not be denied sweets. "Everything requires a reasonable approach. It is necessary to increase the proportion of "complex carbohydrates" in the child's diet, which include: most vegetables (except for potatoes, corn, and pumpkin), berries, citrus fruits, apricots, apples and pears, legumes, cereals (buckwheat, oatmeal, barley). And also replace sweets with healthy ones: honey, berries, vagassi, dark chocolate of the highest quality, dried fruits, and marmalade. But all in small quantities. Sugar, by the way, can be replaced with stevia, maple syrup, or agave syrup," the doctor noted.

According to the dietitian, today in countries with a high standard of living, the natural sugar substitute maltitol, which is made from corn starch, is very actively used. Compared to sugar, it is less caloric and has a low glycemic index, so it is suitable for people who control blood sugar and body weight. It is actively used by those who value a healthy lifestyle. In addition, it does not cause tooth decay.

"That is why chocolate with maltitol and nutty chocolate pastes with maltitol have become a full-fledged healthy food product for both adults and children in the developed world. The only warning concerns children who suffer from allergic reactions: these products should be consumed after consulting a dietitian," the doctor noted.