Less sugar diet in 10 days yields healthier kids: study

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A study has found that children who have reduced their sugar intake within 9 to 10 days have lower blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, according to NBC News.

According to Dr. Robert Lustig, pediatric endocrinologist at the Benioff Children's Hospital of the University of California, San Francisco and lead author of the study, this gives credibility to the claim that the use of added sugar must be regulated due to its negative health effects.

Live Science defines added sugar as the sweetener derived from sugar cane, corn, sorghum, honey, maple syrup or agave. It's used to improve food taste, extend its shelf life and lower production costs. Chocolates, candies, sodas and blended coffee drinks are known to have high levels of added sugar.

The American Heart Association reports that Americans consume 385 calories or 23 teaspoons of added sugar daily. This translates to 40 pounds of added sugar per person each year.

The study was conducted on 43 Latino and black children within the 9 to 18 age range who suffer from obesity, high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol levels, and fatty liver.

The children's diet, which included turkey hot dogs, pizza, bean burritos, baked potato chips and popcorn purchased at local supermarkets, closely approximated what they usually ate at home as well as their calorie intake. However, carbonated drinks, sweets and other sugar-rich items were noticeably absent from the list.   

The children recorded healthier vital stats by the 9th day of the study. Blood pressure dropped by an average of five points, triglycerides fell by 33 points, and low-density lipoprotein, also known as bad cholesterol, was 10 points lower. Blood sugar and insulin were also significantly reduced.

The children felt less hunger pangs and even lost as much as two pounds of their body weight.

"They told us it felt like so much more food, even though they were consuming the same number of calories as before, just with significantly less sugar. Some said we were overwhelming them with food," said Dr. Jean-Marc Schwarz of the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Touro University California, co-author of the study.

"It was surprising to see that 9 or 10 days of sugar restriction was so powerful to reduce some of those risk factors for diabetes and lipids," he added.

With the study's results, the researchers conclude that switching to a low-sugar diet can easily reveres the negative effects of sugar in the body, empowering individuals to lead a healthier lifestyle.