How to curb your sweet tooth

October counts us down to Halloween. Although typically an American celebration with pagan origins, more and more Aussies are partaking in dressing-up and trick or treating.

Kids love this holiday because of the sugary treats, but this can turn into a nightmare for a parent as energy levels spike. Too much sugar can affect a child’s mood and hyperactivity. Over time, kids can build an insulin resistance, and this means they won’t be able to break down sugars as easily. This can cause health problems like diabetes and obesity.

Natural sugars are essential for a young child’s growth. Don’t be afraid of fruit, whole grains, beans, or dairy. However, it is important to reduce added sugars like dextrose, sucrose, molasses, or honey. If you start early, you can train your child’s taste buds to resist sweet cravings. By introducing solid foods with lots of fibre, it will encourage them to make healthier choices. Fibre slows down carb digestion and sugar absorption.

If you have to backtrack and reverse their already established sugary habits, start by making small changes. Like quitting coffee, they may experience some side effects and cravings, so don’t go completely cold turkey. If they are used to consuming sweets, it can be confusing if suddenly they are not allowed to eat what they enjoy.

Try substituting alternatives: Swap daily sugary drinks for an occasional drink or real fruit juice. Swap sweet yogurt for a plain or lower-sugar yogurt with fruit.

To prevent insulin levels from drastically spiking you can encourage your children to drink more. Water helps to encourage the digestion of sugar by diluting glucose in the blood stream. Drinking lots of water will also help them feel fuller for longer and they won’t need to eat as many snacks.

Supplements can also help keep your kids calm. Try getting them to exhaust energy through exercise or playing outside. After running off some steam, a good night’s rest is important to help their body reset and flush out toxins. Supplements and vitamins can help calm their mind and body before bed. Think magnesium, vitamin D and B, or ingredients like passionflower, chamomile, or ashwagandha.

Try  Nutra Organic's Captain Calm before bedtime or Swisse Kids Multi 60 Tablets for a general boost.