By Lydia Samson
Infants and young children have the greatest nutrient needs at any time in life.
Poor nutrition at a young age causes irreversible mental and physical damage.
World Health Organization, WHO, recommends children reduce their daily intake of free sugars to less than 10 percent of their energy intake as it reduces the risk of obesity and tooth decay.
Sugar has been linked to a rise in childhood obesity, emotional disorders and learning issues.
Dr Ajibolu Oke of the Oyo State Hospital Management Board points out that when a child consumes too much sugar, it leads to obesity, the risk of high blood pressure later in life, elevated cholesterol levels and also the risks of developing Type 2 diabetes.
According to him, some signs one should note when a child is consuming too much sugar include increased hunger or weight gain, fatigue and low energy, cravings for sweets, acne and wrinkles on the face and high blood pressure.
Dr Ajibolu recommends that children under the age of 2 should not consume sugar at all and children above 2 years should not have more than 25 grams of sugar, which is 6 teaspoons of sugar per day.
Excessive sugar intake can lead to major effects on sleep in children and restlessness during the day.
Steps parents should take to decrease sugar intake in their children include substituting soft drinks with lemon water, giving them healthy snacks, especially when they engage in sports.
Some healthy snacks in Nigeria include peanuts, kulikuli, dankwa, corn, coconut, kokoro, cashew nuts and tiger nuts.
They should celebrate special occasions with an activity rather than sugary foods or drinks; and not give children sugary snacks before bed, a minimum of an hour before their bedtime is advisable
