How important is sugar for us?
Cars run fast because they have fuel in their engine. Ever wondered what’s your engine and what is its petrol? Your engine is your digestive system, located in your tummy, and your fuel is carbohydrates which you get from food. These carbohydrates give you the energy to study, play, etc. Sugar is a carbohydrate.
A tale of two sugars - good and bad?
There are two kinds of sugar you need to be aware of:
1. Natural sugar: This is the sugar found naturally in fruits, vegetables and milk. Natural sugar is what makes fruits like mangoes and watermelon so yummy.
2. Added sugar: This is the extra sugar that’s added to foods to make them so delicious. Foods like biscuits, chocolates, cakes, chips, etc., contain added sugar.
How does added sugar affect our bodies?
Eating foods with natural sugar causes us no harm at all. But we need to be careful about eating food with added sugar. This is because eating too much sugar can make it difficult for us to think clearly and remember things. Sometimes, it can also cause anxiety and irritability.
Does that mean I have to give up my favourite foods?
Absolutely not. Only when a person consumes chips, ice cream, cakes, cookies, biscuits, soda, gulab jamuns, ladoos, etc., regularly for many months does their body begin to get sick. To remain healthy, it is important to develop good sugar habits from now on.
What do the doctors say?
Doctors say that children can have up to 24 grams of added sugar per day (about 5-6 teaspoons). Junk food and desserts contain a lot more than just 6 teaspoons of sugar. So they can be enjoyed once or twice a week, but not every day.
Your body is an amazing machine that enables you to experience this wonderful world. You must protect it well so it can take you on whatever adventures you desire.
