Source: USA Today
A new study has been completed by researchers at Yale University’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity. The study shows that most of the cereals targeted to children are unhealthy. Most of these cereals are high in sugar and sodium and low in fiber.
Glycemic Index
When compared to cereals advertised to adults, cereals advertised to children were found to have:
- 85% more sugar
- 65% less fiber, and
- 60% more sodium.
While, the sodium numbers are astonishing, the sugar and fiber numbers are disturbing. The glycemic index of a food estimates the insulin response you will have after consuming food. The higher the glycemic index, the more insulin will be released into your blood stream. High blood insulin is not good because it:
- Slows metabolism
- Increases fat storage
- Causes you to get hungry faster
Cereal Killers
Some of the cereals found to be least nutritious were:
- Reese’s Puffs,
- Corn Pops,
- Lucky Charms,
- Cinnamon Toast Crunch and
- Cap’n Crunch.
I knew Cinnamon Toast Crunch would be on the list. It tastes too good to be healthy.
More Bad News
- The least nutritious cereals had the most advertisements.
- Many of the least nutritious cereals had health claims on the boxes.
- When given unhealthy cereals with no limitations, children ate two servings on average.
Some Good News
- Most companies have decreased the sugar content of their cereals.
- Children enjoy the healthier cereals as much as the low nutritious cereals.
- Even when kids add sugar to the healthier cereals, they don’t reach the levels of the low nutritious cereals.
- Kids are more likely to add fruit to the healthier cereals than the low nutritious cereals.
Bottom Line: Most cereals advertised to children are not healthy. Get your children low sugar, high fiber cereals and you will be amazed at how much they enjoy them. Better yet, make them some oatmeal with skim milk and cinnamon.
For weight loss tips to help you lose weight and keep it off, check out Dr. Kal’s Weight Loss Tips.
Photo by Mads Boedker.
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