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We know that it’s hard to resist a delicious burger or a mouth watering slice of pizza, but when it comes to kids, a little self control needs to be exercised. Healthy eating habits are a great way to ensure that your children stay fit and fine for life, so it’s important to teach your kids to eat well balanced meals so that they can be strong. But keeping them away from junk food is easier said than done, especially nowadays due to its accessibility and affordability. Not to mention that it’s so much easier for parents to just get take out after a long day. But eating junk food on a regular basis can cause some major health problems and concerns in the long run. It’s not just sweet treats and take out you need to worry about though. Even foods like artificially sweetened yogurt, bread, seed oils and other plant based products that seem to be healthy, can be just as bad for your kids as a fudge pudding. So here are some reasons why junk food is bad for your kids and why you should turn to healthier alternatives.
1. Eating Junk Food Impacts Energy And Focus
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We know that parents are often complaining that their kids are too energetic, but that’s how things should be. Your little one’s are supposed to be active and alert, not sluggish and docile, which is exactly what happens to them when they consume too much junk food. Your child’s study habits and ability to focus also is influenced by the kind of diet they have (1). Junk food and other foods that contain high levels of sugar can diminish your child’s energy levels, making it harder for them to concentrate on the tasks at hand. This is why eating junk food is so detrimental to the wellbeing of your kids. Because it not just influences their health but their lives as well. Childhood is the time when your child develops and grows holistically so it’s important to ensure that they are active and healthy in order to develop well. This is also why children of young ages take part in many physical activities. And eating junk food, although tasty, has no nutritional benefits that can lend them the energy or stamina they need to keep going throughout the day. And a lack of physical activity can be detrimental to your child’s mental and physical health. So it’s important to fuel their body with food packed with nutrients so that they have the energy and focus to function well.
2. It Is Harmful For Gut Health
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Our gut is like our second brain and it houses innumerable bacteria that help us stay healthy and fit. They also aid in fighting off any unwanted bacteria that may enter the body and be harmful to us (2). It’s safe to say that gut health is integral to maintain proper bodily functions and a strong immune system. But junk food can harm the gut and deteriorate its ability to fend off harmful bacteria. So it’s important to keep these foods out of your child’s reach. This way they are less likely to be susceptible to tummy aches and won’t fall ill as often. Again, everything is about balance. It’s okay for your child to have a coolie every couple of days or once a week. But an entire pack a day will not do their gut health any good.
3. They House Bad Fats
Most if not all junk foods have artificial trans fats in them which can be catastrophic for their health. Junk foods also contain hydrogenated vegetable oil which also has trans fat in them. This kind of fat is not the healthy kind that’s found in almonds and avocados. Instead they are bad fats that can cause diabetes, heart diseases, childhood obesity and even strokes (3). So you must find a way to minimize the amount of junk food your kids consume as much as possible so that their intake of trans fat reduces significantly.
4. It Can Lead To Childhood Obesity
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This is the biggest growing concern that we have right now. Several studies have shown us that the consumption of fast food has led to a number of risky obesity related health issues in kids (4). This is generally because children who are prone to eating junk food are more likely to eat a whole meal’s worth of sugar, carbs and fat and calories. And they are less likely to consume nutrition rich foods such as milk, vegetables, fruit and fiber. This gave rise to them putting on an unhealthy amount of weight and facing several health issues because of it.
Ensuring that your kids lay off the junk and eat right can be a challenge. But it’s one worth undertaking. After all, no parent wants to see their child fall prey to the adverse effects of an unhealthy diet. So encourage your kids to eat right!
