In this short article, we will answer the question “Is starburst gluten-free?”, discuss whether it is healthy or not for kids and show you some reasons to cut sugar from the children’s diet.
Is starburst gluten-free?
Yes, starbust are gluten-free and safe for people with Celiac disease as well as other gluten-related food sensitivities.
Is starburst safe for kids?
No, they are very sugary, which is not good for kids, and ought to be avoided during the first two years of life.
Parents and caregivers may believe that these foods are healthful because of their bright visual identities that allude to games and the suggestion that they are comprised of fruits, however, they are not.
Although it is frequently a habit that starts in childhood, sugar consumption is linked to the emergence of numerous diseases in adulthood.
These fruit chews represent a low nutritional quality dietary pattern that can cause excessive weight gain, the development of bacterial plaque and tooth decay, as well as other related ailments.
They also have an unbalanced nutritional composition and a greater energy content. Last but not least, the availability of sweet flavours during childhood influences how the palate develops into one that eventually craves more sugar.
For children, excessive sugar consumption can have long-lasting negative effects on their health, just as it does for adults who consume too much of the component.
What are the reasons to limit sugar in children’s diets?
Here are 8 justifications for limiting sugar intake in kids’ diets:
- Sugar contains “empty calories,”
Being well-nourished does not necessarily mean eating a lot of food, especially if it contains a lot of processed sugar. These foods are high in calories, but they also lack adequate levels of the vitamins, minerals, and proteins that are crucial for a child’s development.
As a result, we say that sugar delivers “empty calories,” meaning that it contributes to weight gain but does not fulfil the body’s nutritional requirements.
- Sugar consumption promotes tooth decay
The presence of sucrose molecules, commonly known as common sugar, which is the preferred meal of these microbes, promotes the growth of caries-causing bacteria.
Therefore, a diet high in sweets such as candy, cookies, cakes, ice cream, soft drinks, and other desserts may increase the likelihood of developing dental decay.
- Sugar consumption is directly linked to obesity.
According to estimates, 30 per cent of kids between the ages of 5 and 9 are overweight, and consuming too much sugar is the main factor contributing to this problem.
The liver processes the remaining portion of this ingredient, metabolising it, and storing it as fat, which causes overweight and obesity. The body uses some of these ingredients for energy.
As obese or overweight children are more likely to experience the same disease as adults, this problem tends to persist throughout life in addition to the harm that being overweight can already cause in childhood.
- Obesity causes further health issues
In addition to weight gain, which is aided by consuming too much sugar, the quantity of fat molecules in the blood also rises, causing cholesterol levels to rise.
Because of this, there is an increased risk of developing cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis (clogged blood arteries), coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and strokes.
Additionally, obesity encourages insulin resistance, which makes it more difficult for the body to digest food-derived glucose (sugar). A person may wind up having type 2 diabetes as a result.
In addition to these conditions, being overweight is also linked to sleep apnea, gallstones, acute pancreatitis, liver issues, and numerous malignancies, particularly those of the oesophagus, colon, rectum, and liver.
- Mood fluctuations are associated with sugar consumption
Sugar’s fast absorption by the body and the production of adrenaline, a neurotransmitter that primes the body to protect itself in peril, are further reasons to limit sugar in children’s diets.
When this occurs in regular circumstances, that is, when there is no immediate threat, the result of the adrenaline can be impatience and fatigue, which show up as the infamous sobbing and morning crises.
- Childhood is when food preferences are formed.
Childhood is a time when food preferences are formed, therefore teaching children to eat nutritious foods at a young age is more interesting for them than waiting until later when adopting a new lifestyle is more challenging.
Between the ages of 6 and 12 months, when the child is first introduced to food, they are first experiencing new flavours. So that the young ones can experience the actual flavour of fruits and vegetables, foods must be served with their original flavours.
- Kids have a natural predisposition to sweets from birth.
As a result, sugar shouldn’t be added to milk or other foods, and it is the responsibility of adults to keep children under two years old away from candies, soft drinks, ice cream, and other sweets.
- How to lower the sugar content of baby food
Children can still consume any kind of candy, cookie, or cake as long as the sugar content is reduced; nevertheless, it is vital to look for healthier substitutes to take the place of the standard varieties.
Conclusion:
In this short article, we answered the question “Is starburst gluten-free?”, discussed whether it is healthy or not for kids and have shown you some reasons to cut sugar from the children’s diet.
