Throughout Scottsdale Phoenix, Chandler and Glendale, people are cutting sugar in the name of healthy living. Now there is further evidence that suggests this might be exactly the right thing to do.
A newly published study reports that reducing sugar from a child’s diet can actually deliver health benefits in as few as 10 days. This comes out as a slew of research gains publicity concerning the level of sugar in the average American diet, and the many health consequences that are associated with consuming a diet that is overloaded with sugar.
There has been a long standing discussion across medical weight loss programs surrounding the best practices of calorie consumption. While the basic rule of weight loss is to eat less and move more, there are many who argue that simply eating less isn’t the true answer. The answer rests in making smarter choices in the foods that you do eat. Researchers from the University of California at San Francisco are of this mindset, and set out to prove the idea that all calories are not equal—especially when placed in the mouth of a child.
The Problem with Sugar
Not all unhealthy foods are loaded with sugar. There are plenty of junk foods, including processed foods and fast food that are low in sugar but high in cholesterol, sodium, or fat content. Yet sugar often stands out in the area of eating healthy, and there is a good reason why. The body reacts to sugar in ways that it does not typically react to other nutrients. For example, while sugar seems to give us a surge of energy, it actually increases fatigue, stimulates hunger, and will even prompt sudden mood swings.
In children, the effects of sugar are amplified. Unfortunately, the issues listed above are just the tip of the iceberg in regards to health concerns connected to sugar consumption.
In a recent study, researchers replaced added sugar with starchy foods. Calorie to calorie, the diets were very similar. The only difference was that the starchy foods were free of added sugars. The diet did not eliminate naturally produced sugars like fructose, which are found in fruits and vegetables. The subjects followed the prescribed diets and researchers watched for health factors like blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.
What makes this study stand out from others of its kind is that the subjects that followed the healthier diets were children between the age of 9 and 18.
After only 10 days, the health benefits were profound. Kids showed LDL cholesterol levels an average of 10% lower than prior to the diet change, blood pressure decreased by five points and triglycerides fell by an average of 33 points. Blood sugar and insulin levels also saw drastic improvements. This was all without any weight loss.
Researchers at the University of California are already looking into duplicating the study while focusing on adults, but the information already at hand showcases the importance of making healthy changes to your eating habits. Simply adjusting your diet for added sugar can help you overcome chronic health problems and will support your weight loss goals.