Sugar-sweetened beverages are a huge problem in the US, and are a leading contributor to many health conditions. Sugar provides calories with no added nutrients and can damage your metabolism in the long run. Infants consuming sugar-sweetened beverages have twice the obesity prevalence at age 6! 😳
We all know soda and sports drinks have added sugar. But other drinks might not be so obvious, like coconut water or bottled iced teas. Even seemingly “healthy” beverages can contain a lot of sugar. For instance, this Naked juice contains 51 grams of sugar, or approximately 13 teaspoons of sugar! Children should limit their sugar intake to fewer than 6 teaspoons per day.
Any beverages or smoothies you provide your children (or yourself) should be nutrient dense, and contain as low amount of sugar as possible. Train their palate while young, and they will be less likely to turn to these sweet drinks in the long run.
