We all know added sugar isn't great for babies. Now, a new study shows exactly when it can do the most harm.

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Craig Nigrelli Anchor

U.S.

Cutting sugar starting at conception helps kids avoid health risks later: Study

Nov 04, 2024

Craig Nigrelli Anchor

By Craig Nigrelli (Anchor), Shea Taylor (Producer), Bast Bramhall (Video Editor)

A new study shows eating little to no sugar starting at conception can protect babies from health risks later in life. The study found that restricting sugar intake for the first 1,000 days of a child’s life can make a significant difference.

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Researchers found avoiding sugar from conception to age two can reduce a child’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 35% and delay its onset by four years. They also found limiting a baby’s sugar intake drops their risk of high blood pressure by 20% and delays its onset by two years.

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The study found the most important times to avoid sugar for babies are during pregnancy and after they’re about 6 months old, when they typically start eating solid foods.

U.S. dietary guidelines recommend children under the age of 2 consume no added sugars at all and anyone older than 2 old have up to 4 tablespoons a day. Despite that, the CDC says on average, Americans, including children, consume nearly six tablespoons of sugar per day.

Tags: CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Children, food, Health, Health Care, National Institutes of Health, Pregnancy, Study

TRY TELLING THIS TO SOMEONE EXPERIENCING PREGNANCY CRAVINGS…

A NEW STUDY SHOWS EATING LITTLE TO NO SUGAR – STARTING AT **CONCEPTION** – CAN PROTECT BABIES FROM HEALTH RISKS LATER IN LIFE.

THE STUDY FOUND THAT RESTRICTING SUGAR INTAKE FOR THE FIRST ONE THOUSAND DAYS OF A CHILD’S LIFE – CAN MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE.

THE STUDY FOUND AVOIDING SUGAR FROM CONCEPTION TO AGE TWO…

CAN REDUCE A CHILD’S RISK OF DEVELOPING TYPE 2 DIABETES BY 35 PERCENT…

AND DELAYS ITS ONSET BY 4 YEARS.

RESEARCHERS ALSO FOUND LIMITING A BABY’S SUGAR INTAKE DROPS THEIR RISK OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE BY 20 PERCENT…

AND DELAYS ITS ONSET BY TWO YEARS.

THE STUDY FOUND THE MOST IMPORTANT TIMES TO AVOID SUGAR FOR BABIES…

ARE DURING PREGNANCY… AND AFTER THEY’RE ABOUT 6 MONTHS OLD WHEN THEY TYPICALLY START EATING SOLID FOODS.

U-S DIETARY GUIDELINES RECOMMEND CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 2 CONSUME NO ADDED SUGARS AT ALL AND THOSE OLDER THAN 2 OLD HAVE UP TO 4 TABLESPOONS A DAY.

DESPITE THAT… THE C-D-C SAYS ON AVERAGE, AMERICANS – INCLUDING CHILDREN – CONSUME NEARLY SIX TABLESPOONS OF SUGAR PER DAY.

Cutting sugar starting at conception helps kids avoid health risks later: Study

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