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You probably already spend a lot of time thinking about how your child’s diet will affect his or her body. You might closely monitor their calcium intake to make sure their bones are growing as they should, and you might consider taking vitamin C to make sure they have strong immune systems, and you can see how different meals affect their energy levels.
In fact, the foods kids eat affects more than just their bodies – they are also fundamental to their cognitive health. Now, new research has found that for children of primary school age, sugary sodas can harm brain function.
In the study, published in the journal Nutrients, researchers examined nearly 6,400 children aged 6-12 years and asked them how often and how often they drank sugar-sweetened beverages. They compared these responses to the children’s performance on tests of executive function. Increased consumption of sweetened beverages has been linked to worse performance in these assessments.
This is an excellent reminder to parents that sodas, energy drinks, and juices should not be the primary beverages served in the home or available to children. Good water should be the drink of choice. It can be infused with berries, citruses, or even cucumbers to make it more appealing.
If you’re going with something sweeter, it’s recommended to dilute 100% pure fruit juice so that it’s 70% water, 30% juice, or opt for a homemade juice with fresh fruits and vegetables.
It is especially important to limit sugary sodas to a drink often because these effects on cognitive function are not limited to the short term. Research earlier this year found that drinking a lot of soda in childhood can affect children’s brains later in life, impairing their memory in adulthood.