British research
By RTL Nieuws·49 minutes ago·Changed: 27 minutes ago
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From the first days of pregnancy, parents can protect their children against chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure later in life. This is evident from recent research. In adulthood, the risk of chronic disease is significantly lower when babies receive little sugar in the womb and during the toddler phase.
Scientists have discovered that there is a link between the amount of sugar that babies consume during the first thousand days of their lives and the risk of type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure in middle age. With a limited amount of sugar, the risk of diabetes is 35 percent lower and the risk of high blood pressure is 20 percent lower.
“Exposure to a relatively low-sugar environment in utero and early childhood significantly reduces the risk of diabetes and hypertension,” says Tadeja Gračner of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. tegen The Guardian.
Construction organs
This has to do with the fact that the organs are developed during that period, explains Tessa Roseboom, professor at Amsterdam UMC. “The structure of your heart, lungs, stomach or liver, for example, is determined by the building blocks you receive from your mother in the womb, or by your diet.”
“At no time in your life do you grow so fast and achieve as many biological milestones as in the first thousand days,” the professor continues. “It is therefore not surprising that those days are decisive.”
Sick later
According to the research, less sugar at a young age not only contributes to a lower risk of diseases, but also to the postponement of diseases. For example, people who had followed a low-sugar diet as children took four years longer to develop diabetes than people who ate a lot of sugar in the same period. In the case of high blood pressure, there was a delay of two years.
According to the researchers, the findings show that a healthy diet in the first thousand days of human life is crucial for the rest of life.
Professor Roseboom agrees with this, who has also conducted research into the influence of the first days of life on health later in life. Her research showed, among other things, that nutrition at a young age influences brain structure and function, as well as kidney and lung function. Nutrition in the first thousand days even influences the risk of certain types of cancer.
Dietary Guidelines
The research was published in the scientific journal Science. The researchers compared the health data of 38,000 people conceived and born during the post-war rationing of sugar and sweets with the data of 22,000 people conceived shortly afterwards.
During rationing, sugar consumption was comparable to current dietary guidelines. But sugar consumption nearly doubled after rationing ended. The results show that the rates of diabetes and high blood pressure were significantly lower among those who were conceived and lived to two years of age during the rationing period. The time these people spent in the womb provided about a 30 percent reduction in the risk of the diseases.
Researchers believe that added sugars to foods and drinks should account for no more than 5 percent of daily calories. For an adult it is about 30 grams. According to the Sugar Knowledge Center, an adult in the Netherlands consumes an average of 122 grams of sugar per day.
As far as Roseboom is concerned, the government plays an important role in limiting the amount of sugar in food products. “Of course, parents also have responsibility, but the government should make a contribution. It is in the interest of the entire country if fewer people become ill, both for the people themselves and for the healthcare costs and pressure on healthcare.”
Last month, scientific research showed that healthy eating contributes to better school performance in children. In this video you can see how a primary school in Landgraaf ensures that the children live healthier lives:
The school provides healthy school lunches, among other things.
Research Reports: Want Kids to Avoid Diabetes? Skip the Sugar!
Ah, the first days of life: a time when your biggest worry is if the baby is crapping out a solid enough turd to pass for a medal! But apparently, parents might want to reconsider their sugar-laden baby diets if they want their little cherubs to avoid the awkward “let’s-lastingly-tattle-on-your-health” talk with their doctors later in life. According to ground-breaking new research, the amount of sugar a child consumes during the first thousand days (that’s pregnancy and some toddlerhood for those of you who haven’t been binge-watching childbirth documentaries) plays a pivotal role in their risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. Give ’em a doughnut and they’ll be handing you their medical bills later!
A Sweet Deal – For Your Kid’s Future!
If you are wondering what this all means, let’s chew it over for a moment. Researchers found that if those pesky little sugars stay at bay in the womb (and during toddler development), the risk of developing type-2 diabetes could drop by an impressive 35 percent. You heard right: 35 percent! It’s a bit like finding out you can save money just by not eating that chocolate cake every night. Who knew health could come in a low-sugar variety?
Tadeja Gračner from the University of Southern California, who must be the modern-day superhero of sugar toting, states, “Exposure to a relatively low-sugar environment in utero and early childhood significantly reduces the risk of diabetes and hypertension.” So, if anyone looks down on you for avoiding cake at your cousin’s baby shower, just flash a knowing smile. You’re doing it for the future health of your kid!
The Building Blocks of Health
Now, let’s take a moment to marvel at the miracle of biology. Tessa Roseboom, Professor of Basic Health Sciences at Amsterdam UMC, explains that during those early days, the organs are developing at lightning speed. It’s a bit like assembly line production, only instead of boring cars, we’re churning out hearts, lungs, and other components necessary for actual life. “At no time in your life do you grow so fast and achieve so many biological milestones as in the first thousand days,” Roseboom states, sounding a bit like a lecturer who just figured out her shiny new projector!
They’ll Be Older, and Healthier Too!
Besides just cutting the risk for pesky chronic diseases, cutting sugar during childhood appears to delay when these diseases kick in. So, not only are we talking about raising a child free of diabetes, but it seems those lucky little ones will also take their sweet time developing health issues! Apparently, kids who avoid sugar delay diabetes development by around four years. Four years! That’s like forever in the world of parenting, or about 11,000 tantrums.
And as Roseboom aptly points out, nutrition in those crucial early days doesn’t just influence diabetes and blood pressure; it can even affect brain structure, function, and risk of certain cancers. And no pressure here, but feeding the baby is now a matter of life and death. Fantastic!
Sugar: The Sweetest Enemy
Of course, we can’t bite the hand that feeds, or in this case, the government which decides what’s a reasonable sugar quota. Research suggests that added sugars should not exceed 5% of daily calorie intake, somewhere around 30 grams for adults. But over here in the Netherlands, adults are polishing off an average of 122 grams of sugar daily. So, I guess we should just keep the chocolate factories running until we can figure out how to wean parents off the sweet stuff – and coax their kids back to the taste of carrots!
Roseboom calls on the government to take action against sugar-laden products like they did back in the day during post-war rationing. If they managed to keep the population healthier then, why not do it again? After all, fewer sick people could be a win-win for healthcare and for you, if you want to avoid paying €10 for a bag of lettuce!
Conclusion: Sweet Choices Matter!
So, there you have it. New research is indicating the long-term health benefits of reduced sugar intake in children. Parents, it’s time to strap on those health-conscious bibs and start evaluating your grocery lists. And when Auntie Doris tries to shove a sugar-filled cupcake into your babe’s mouth, feel free to remind her that a healthy future might just be riding on what she considers a harmless treat. After all, good parenting is all about a little cheek to cheek talk – and sometimes, that means cheekily avoiding the sugary stuff!
For those keen to see a better future for our children, let’s embrace this research, share the knowledge, and remember: less sugar today equals healthier kids tomorrow! Now go ahead and enjoy your broccoli – with maybe a side of humus!
**Interview with Tadeja Gračner, University of Southern California Researcher on Sugar Intake in Early Childhood**
**Host:** Welcome, Tadeja Gračner! Thank you for joining us today to discuss your groundbreaking research on sugar intake in children and its long-term health consequences.
**Tadeja Gračner:** Thank you for having me! It’s a pleasure to be here.
**Host:** Your study highlights the impact of sugar consumption during the first 1,000 days of life. Can you tell us more about the key findings?
**Tadeja Gračner:** Absolutely! Our research found that limiting sugar intake during pregnancy and early childhood can significantly reduce the risk of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure later in life. In fact, children who were in a lower-sugar environment had a 35% lower risk of developing diabetes and a 20% lower risk of hypertension.
**Host:** That’s quite remarkable! What would you say is the reason behind this correlation?
**Tadeja Gračner:** The first 1,000 days are critical for organ development. The nutrients—and particularly the lack of excessive sugars—received during this time shape not only immediate health but also long-term outcomes. A healthy, low-sugar environment helps set the stage for a healthier future.
**Host:** So, if parents are mindful of sugar intake in these early stages, they could potentially delay the onset of these diseases?
**Tadeja Gračner:** Exactly! Our findings suggest that children who maintain a low-sugar diet during their early years can experience a delay in the onset of diabetes by about four years. For high blood pressure, the delay is around two years. That can make a significant difference in a person’s overall health trajectory.
**Host:** It sounds like a healthy diet isn’t just beneficial but crucial during this development window. How should parents approach sugar in their children’s diets?
**Tadeja Gračner:** I recommend that added sugars should ideally account for no more than 5% of a child’s daily caloric intake. This aligns with current dietary guidelines, which is about 30 grams of sugar for an adult. Parents should focus on whole foods and be cautious about hidden sugars in processed foods.
**Host:** Are there any broader implications of your findings for public health policies?
**Tadeja Gračner:** Definitely. Our research underscores the importance of public health initiatives aimed at reducing sugar consumption in foods and beverages. While parents play a crucial role, government involvement is essential to create environments that support healthier choices, which could drastically lower healthcare costs in the long run.
**Host:** Tadeja, it sounds like you’re advocating not just for individual families, but for systemic change. Thank you for sharing your insights with us today!
**Tadeja Gračner:** Thank you! It’s been a pleasure discussing the importance of nutrition in early life. Together, we can help build a healthier future for our children.
