136: Understanding the Impact of Sugar on Our Kids & Our Health

Are you someone who has a sweet tooth? Do you get cravings for something sweet throughout the day or in the evening before bedtime? If so, I can completely relate. I get sugar cravings, and when they hit, the cravings are strong. And this happens to kids, too! As parents, we sometimes use sweets to show love, appreciation, and sometimes even bribery. I know I have. These cravings can start young. Sugar is also hidden in our foods, and it doesn't have to be advertised or regulated. It's a major part of our culture's diet, but do we really understand the impact of sugar on our health and our kids' health? I'm not sure. That's why I'm talking to scientist and mother, Dr. Nicole Avena, to understand the science and learn what we can do. Who is Dr. Nicole Avena? Dr. Nicole Avena is an Associate Professor of Neuroscience at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City and a Visiting Professor of Health Psychology at Princeton University. She is quite impressive! Dr. Avena is also a public speaker and the author of several popular books like "What to Eat When You’re Pregnant," "Why Diets Fail," "Hedonic Eating," and her latest book, "Sugarless," which covers the latest science on sugar addiction and how to overcome it. She has done groundbreaking work developing models to characterize food addiction and the dangers of excess sugar intake. She is the perfect person to chat with about understanding the impact of sugar on our kids' and our health. What Did We Discuss? In this episode, we're chatting with Dr. Avena about the impact of sugar and the effect that it has on the health of our families. We all know that the majority of kids (and adults) love sugar. So, we’re gonna "chick chat" about some actionable steps to help reduce sugar impact and why this is so important for us to do so. Here are several of the questions that we covered in our conversation: What led you to research the impact of sugar on our health? Tell us more about what you have learned about the effects of sugar on our physical and mental health. Can you elaborate more on the evidence that sugar is addictive? Often, we are unaware of how much sugar is in the food we eat. How can we become more aware of what we are putting into our bodies and the bodies of our children? I think we are all familiar with "sugar cravings." How can we cope with these cravings? What about artificial sweeteners? What should we be aware of when consuming this type of product? What are some ways families can begin to remove excess sugar from their diets? Can you tell us some of the long-term risks of consuming a diet with too much sugar? What are some of your favorite sugar-free recipes and snacks? What resources do you recommend for parents who want to learn more about the dangers of sugar and how to lessen their intake? It was an eye-opening conversation that I think everyone can benefit from and should listen to. Our diets are incredibly important, and because we are the gatekeepers of the kitchen for our kids, these details we discuss are imperative for parents to know. We are building our children's future health now. Tune in to learn all about it and the impact of sugar on our kids and our health! Dr. Avena's Resources Website: DrNicoleAvena.com Dr. Avena's books Facebook: @drnicoleavena Instagram: @drnicoleavena YouTube: @drnicoleavena LinkedIn: @drnicoleavena Thank you for listening to this episode! Follow us on our podcast Instagram page @thebabychickchat, and let us know what you think and if there are any other topics you'd like us to cover. Cheers to better health and less sugar! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices