The harmful effects of sweets on students' health.

The risk of metabolic disorders is not solely related to weight.

Walking past school gates or observing the shops around schools, it's not difficult to spot students holding cups of bubble tea with "full toppings" or bottles of carbonated soft drinks as a familiar reward after school. Many parents often think that it's normal for children to eat a little sugar for energy. However, from a clinical nutritional perspective, the amount of free sugar in these drinks can become a significant metabolic burden for a child's still developing body.

Milk tea is a highly sweet beverage that can be harmful to health if consumed in large quantities.

According to nutrition experts, when children consume large amounts of free sugars from soft drinks or bubble tea, their blood glucose levels rise rapidly. The pancreas then has to work continuously to secrete insulin to regulate blood sugar.

This prolonged condition can lead to insulin resistance and promote the accumulation of visceral fat. More worryingly, many children, despite appearing to be in good shape, are actually facing "normal weight obesity" (NWO).

This is considered a "silent killer," increasing the risk of dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes from school age if not detected and treated early.

Carbonated soft drinks and the risk of "draining" calcium from bones.

Another often overlooked issue is the impact of sugary soft drinks on children's bone development. Many soft drinks contain phosphoric acid. To neutralize this acid and maintain a stable pH level in the blood, the body must mobilize calcium from bones and teeth.

This process disrupts the calcium/phosphorus ratio, hindering bone mineralization. As a result, children struggle to achieve peak bone mass during the critical growth period, affecting their height and leading to weaker bones in the future.

Sugary drinks affect memory and concentration.

Sugar not only causes tooth decay but also directly impacts the brain. After a brief period of euphoria caused by sugar (Sugar Rush), children often quickly fall into a state of fatigue and lethargy (Sugar Crash).

A diet high in sugar is closely linked to increased inflammatory responses in the brain, affecting the hippocampus – the area responsible for memory and learning. Children may become irritable, have difficulty concentrating, and experience reduced learning ability.

Parents don't necessarily have to completely ban bubble tea or soft drinks, but they need to help children develop healthy habits when consuming sweets.

The top priority is replacing sugary drinks with water or whole fruits to supplement fiber, which helps slow down the absorption of sugar.

In addition, parents should teach children the habit of reading food labels to check the sugar content on the packaging before consuming the food.

In particular, parents also need to become "nutritional role models" for their children through their own daily eating habits.

Proper nutrition not only helps children develop physically but is also a crucial foundation for them to have a healthy body, a sharp mind, and good learning abilities in the future.

P. Huong (according to Health & Life newspaper)

Source: https://yte.nghean.gov.vn/tin-chuyen-nganh/tac-hai-cua-do-ngot-doi-voi-suc-khoe-hoc-sinh-1017052