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On the market there is a whole range of products available that are nutritionally unbalanced, full of preservatives and sugars. These products often appeal to the taste buds, but they are also very unhealthy. Especially for children, who may specifically ask their parents for not only sweet foods but also drinks. Sugars are highly addictive. Let’s focus specifically on drinks. Children’s juices may seem beneficial at first, but in reality they are not good for a child.
General recommendations regarding the consumption of children’s juices
Parents who want to please children with a sweet drink are better off preparing it themselves from fresh fruit. Such a drink is clearly healthier than a store-bought one. The American Academy of Pediatrics has also focused on the consumption of store-bought children’s juices and states the following:
- Store-bought fruit juices for children should not be consumed by children younger than 6 months. An exception may be situations when your child, for example, has constipation.
- Purchased juices have no nutritional value for children from 6 months to 6 years of age. Parents should primarily favor the consumption of fresh fruit, which provides children with vitamins and fiber.
- If you allow children to drink purchased boxed juices, limit their consumption to a minimum. For children from 1 year to 6 years allow a maximum of 120 to 180 milliliters per day and 240 to 350 ml for children over seven years of age.
Do not buy unpasteurized juices for children
Juices that have not been pasteurized can spoil earlier than pasteurized ones. Also, you cannot see into a carton of children’s juice and cannot check whether the drink has already gone moldy. Therefore, avoid these products entirely.
Adverse effects on the oral cavity
Frequent consumption of sweet juices can, like sweets, also cause increased tooth decay in children. This is a big problem especially when it concerns permanent teeth. So pay attention to what your children drink. This problem is not caused only by juices, but also by other sweet soft drinks, both carbonated and non-carbonated.
