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Feeding children diet food instead of the full-calorie version can lead to overeating and obesity later in life, a report from a Canadian study conducted by the University of Alberta claims.
In the study, young mice were fed either regular food or low-calorie substitutes.
The result was interesting
The low-calorie version led the mice to overeat regardless of whether they had genetic predispositions for being lean or obese.
The lead researcher, Professor David Pierce, states
Based on the results of our research, we have concluded that it is better for children to have a wholesome balanced diet with enough calories for their daily activities, rather than low-calorie meals and dishes.
Obesity is a major risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
So make sure your children eat the right diet from the start. It is important for their long-term future health.
Why is diet food bad?
Although many consider low-calorie diets a tool to slow aging and prolong life, this in no way applies to diet and low-calorie versions of foods.
And it is certainly not a suitable choice for developing children. Industrially processed and packaged diet foods sold as a “healthier alternative” are everything but healthier.
I believe there is a large misunderstanding of low-calorie diets here, which in many cases cause more harm than good.
There is also suspicion that most studies supporting low-calorie diets as a means to longer life contain serious interpretive errors. The reason these diets work temporarily is that they normalize insulin and leptin levels and keep them low.
Levels can therefore be kept down by these diets, but for many people that causes more harm than good. The point is that a person is denying themselves necessary nutrition.
If you eat properly according to your nutritional type, it is possible to normalize insulin levels even without those diets. You will feel full and satisfied and not constantly hungry.
That alone is enough to extend lifespan!
Additives to watch out for. But back to low-calorie diet foods.
To give these foods at least some taste, several artificial flavor enhancers and sugar substitutes are added to them. These include monosodium glutamate (MSG) or aspartame. Both are incredibly harmful to human health.
Aspartame and MSG act as conductors of nerve impulses in the brain by transmitting information from one neuron to another.
Too much of either in the brain kills neurons by letting large amounts of calcium into the cells.
Such an excess creates an overabundance of free radicals, which ultimately kills the cells. The killing of nerve cells is why aspartate and monosodium glutamate are referred to as excitotoxins.
They “excite” the cell, i.e. overstimulate it to the point of death
Unfortunately, many manufacturers hide the fact that their products contain monosodium glutamate, which can make it difficult for consumers to avoid them.
Instead of the real name they use expressions such as:
- gelatin
- hydrolyzed plant protein
- yeast extract
- malted barley
- rice syrup or brown rice syrup
As for aspartame (E951), and also sucralose (E955) — another dangerous sweetener — they are part of even more foods. In many you would not even expect them.
Here are examples of products where they are most often added:
- so-called light drinks and foods
- even regular drinks and juices (many are sweetened with a mixture of sugar and artificial sweeteners)
- chewing gums, candies, lollipops and other “sweets,” because they’ve long since stopped using sugar
- yogurts (yes, they put them there these days too)
- medicines, even many vitamin supplements
- fruit teas
Naming all the foods would be beyond the scope of this article. New ones are appearing almost daily.
Therefore we strongly recommend reading the ingredient lists of all foods you buy for your children. And not just for them — adults should avoid artificial sweeteners too!
The myth of low-calorie products and weight loss
Another important thing to know is that low-calorie products, such as diet soft drinks, do not help with weight loss.
This is a complete myth
In fact, nearly a decade ago various studies suggested that artificial sweeteners lead to the following effects:
- they stimulate appetite
- they increase cravings for carbohydrates
- they promote fat storage and weight gain
As early as 1986 the American Cancer Society (ACS) documented that people consuming artificial sweeteners gained more weight than those who avoided them.
Whether you are trying to lose weight or maintain it, using artificial sweeteners such as aspartame does not have a significant impact on weight control.
The few calories saved by drinking a diet beverage will not make a meaningful difference if you still need to satisfy your hunger and then consume a few cookies.
A healthy solution for life
It is commendable that we are beginning to see more scientific recommendations to return to balanced eating and exercise.
This is the true long-term way. Unfortunately, some doctors and pediatricians still recommend diet foods and drinks for overweight children as an acceptable substitute for regular food.
Don’t believe them!
Your child ideally needs plain water so that their urine is light yellow (if it is dark yellow, they are not drinking enough water).
Sodas, sweetened juices and milk do not count toward this requirement.
Basically, it is very sad to read that the biggest source of vitamins and minerals in children’s diets comes from juices and pasteurized milk. Children should rather avoid those to achieve optimal health.
Give yourself and your children the gift of a lifetime again and again by guiding them on their journey to lifelong health with these recommendations:
- Find out what your nutritional type is and then prepare your meal plan accordingly
- Encourage yourself and the children to exercise at least 30 minutes a day — preferably through family activities such as cycling, hiking or sports
- Turn off the TV — not only to encourage physical activity, but also to avoid watching ads for various unhealthy foods
- Replace sodas and other sweetened (or diet) drinks with water flavored with freshly squeezed lemon juice — each soft drink consumed per day increases the risk of obesity for your child (and you) by 60%!
