The Easter binge
JOBURG - Parents may think that they are treating their children with bags of sweets and bunny-shaped-chocolates.
A box of marshmallow Easter eggs contains dozens of beautifully packaged treats. These boxes are bought in bulk by many who want to celebrate the sweet indulgences that Easter brings. However, there is a sour side to the sweetness.
The biggest problem is that the Easter binge often means that there are leftovers for the child’s school lunch box. The effects of the Easter celebration, therefore, can become long-term.
Morningside-based remedial therapist, Irene El Naddaf, said that it is clear that eating sugar impacts on a child’s ability to remain focused. Naddaf said that pupils who have had too much sugar become easily distracted and added that parents need to be very aware of what they put in their child’s lunch box as it impacts on the child’s performance in the classroom. It is for this reason that she rewards her pupils with sugar-free treats.
Dr Chelsea Cahi, a dentist at Cahi Dental Practice in Atholl, said that excess sugar is known to cause a multitude of health-related issues, of which dental decay is of primary concern. Cahi explained that when sugar comes into contact with the plaque on our teeth, an acid is produced. This acid eventually causes tooth decay.
Dietitian, Tabitha Hume, explained that parents often give children excessive quantities of chocolate as a sign of love and affection. Hume went on to explain that sweet treats should never fill the gap where care and love should be. Hume said that the excessive eating of chocolates can cause an overproduction of insulin from the pancreas and leaves fatty deposits in the liver. This excessive consumption can cause bloating and diarrhoea.
And so, the experts have spoken.
