Limiting sugar consumption early can prevent chronic disease in midlife: Study

A lowsugar diet in pregnancy which if continued in the first two years of life can meaningfully reduce the risk of chronic diseases in adulthood according to a new studyThe study led by the US and Canadian researchers provides compelling new evidence of the lifelong health effects of earlylife sugar consumptionChildren who had sugar restrictions during their first 1000 days after conception had up to 35 per cent lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetesIt can also reduce as much as 20 per cent the risk of hypertension as adults revealed the study published in the journal ScienceDiabetes and hypertension high blood pressure are the most common noncommunicable diseases driving a significant health burden across the globe The World Health Organization WHO recommends no added sugars for children under two and not more than 12 teaspoons 50g of added sugar daily for adultsNotably exposure to sugar restrictions in utero alone was enough to lower risks but disease protection increased postnatally once solids were likely introducedIf followed this can save costs extend life expectancy and perhaps more importantly quality of life said the researchers from the McGill University in Montreal and the University of California Berkeley who examined how sugar rationing during World War II influenced longterm health outcomesBesides raising annual medical expenditures earlier diagnosis of diabetes also means significantly shorter life expectancy with every decade earlier that a diagnosis of diabetes is made cutting three to four years off of life expectancyThese numbers underscore the value of early interventions that could delay or prevent this disease the researchers notedEven as consumption of excessive amounts of added sugars during childrenrsquos early life a critical period of development continues to mount the study raised concerns about childrenrsquos longterm healthWhile adjusting child sugar consumption is not easy as added sugar is everywhere even in baby and toddler foods they called on policymakers to hold ldquofood companies accountable to reformulate baby foods with healthier options and regulate the marketing and tax sugary foods targeted at kidsrdquoThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever