Durban - Sugary drinks could be stunting your child’s intellectual and physical development.
And, with the return of thousands of children to school armed with sugar-laden refreshments to beat the heat, the trend is set to continue across the country.
Citing the findings of the recently released SA National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the SA Rooibos Council said two out of three pupils took sugary drinks to school at least twice a week, with each soft drink containing up to 55g of sugar.
The World Health Organisation said that was 40g more sugar than the recommended maximum daily limit for children.
“Drinking too many sugary drinks is considered to be the leading cause of obesity in adolescents, especially among schoolboys
“The study points out that the prevalence of obesity has doubled in teenage boys the past six years, making them more prone to chronic lifestyle diseases such as diabetes,” said the Rooibos Council.
“A study conducted by the University of California revealed that consuming excessive quantities of sugar-sweetened drinks can have a major impact on children’s brain function and impair their ability to concentrate and learn at school.”
The organisation said those beverages were loaded with empty calories and provided little or no essential nutrients. They were linked not only to weight gain but also to poor health and tooth decay in children.
Nutritionist Patrick Holford agreed that parents were in a quandary. “It is increasingly difficult to avoid refined sugar in processed food and popular lunchbox snacks these days. It appears in everything from flavoured water to baked beans, often in many different disguises. Despite the host of different names and forms of sugars, they all have the same effect: to upset blood sugar balance and adversely affect weight, energy levels and brain function.”
He said sugar created imbalances in energy that could contribute to erratic behaviour and mood changes.
“When checking labels, look out for sucrose, glucose, maltose, dextrose, inverted sugar syrup, golden syrup, corn syrup and treacle.
“Also check for additives – artificial colourings, sweeteners, preservatives and flavourings – as they can all contribute to adverse behaviour, particularly the orange colouring (tartrazine) found in some orange squashes and sweets.
“Avoid giving your child processed foods and opt instead for natural and sugar-free alternatives,” said Holford.
Ernest du Toit, spokesman of the SA Rooibos Council, said rooibos was as effective as water for hydrating the body and had additional health properties, such as antioxidants, that water did not have.
The Mercury