Harmful effects of adding sugar too early to children's diet
According to indianexpress, Ms. Aastha Grover - breast milk consultant, Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj, Delhi (India) - said that like salt, sugar needs to be added to the baby's diet carefully and at the right time, to ensure healthy development in both physical health and long-term eating habits.
According to Aastha Grover, from birth, babies have begun to form a taste preference. Exposing your baby to sugar too early can lead to the habit of liking sweets, increasing the risk of obesity, tooth decay and metabolic disorders as adults.
Dr. Akanksha Parikh, a pediatric endocrinologist at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital (Mumbai), cited the recommendation of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics that babies should be fully breastfed for the first six months of life. After that, when entering the belly feeding stage, the food should be completely sugar-free until at least one year old. Even after that time, sugar consumption should be limited and natural sugar sources should be prioritized.
Supplementing sugar too soon not only increases the risk of digestive problems such as chronic diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal pain, but also causes children to lose important micronutrients such as iron, calcium, vitamin A, etc. The reason is that foods high in sugar are often poor in nutrients.
Dr. Neema Sharma, Director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology ( fortis Hospital, Delhi), warned that consuming sugar early can make children addicted to sweetness, making it difficult to form a healthy taste. Long-term consequences can be metabolic disorders, insulin resistance, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood.
How should parents supplement sugar?
Experts recommend using fresh fruits such as mashed bananas, steamed apples, ripe pears, because these are foods that are both naturally sweet and rich in fiber and nutrients. Absolutely avoid honey in the first year because of the risk of botulinum poisoning. In addition, you should limit fruit juices and sugary snacks because they contain concentrated sugar but lack fiber.
Finally, build a balanced diet rich in green vegetables, fresh fruits, whole grains and protein. This will help children form healthy eating habits, creating a foundation for long-term health.
