While doing some research to answer a question within my online support group (https://traceymcbeath.com.au/the-art-of-thriving/) I was reminded about the perils of sugar.

About 12 years ago I was thankful to come across David Gillespie’s book, Sweet Poison. I didn’t want to believe what I was reading at first, because like so many people out there, I didn’t really know or understand about the potential harms it was doing to me, but even more so to my kids. I didn’t know it at the time, but making the decision to take it out of my life and my kids lives, would be a life changing decision.

But once I did understand the damage sugar caused, how could I ignore the fact that I was handicapping my kids?

I had never even questioned up until that point what I had been told (now I haven’t stopped!).

As Christine Cronau says in her seminal book called The Fat Revolution that I read back in 2012:

“We have been fed so many mis-truths by the food industry and health organisations. One would assume that the ‘food’ sold in the supermarket is OK. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case, and the majority of ‘food’ in the supermarkets and food outlets is destroying our children’s health.”

She goes on to say, “Children are naturally amazing if we don’t give them a handicap. There is a global concern for the malnutrition being suffered in the developing world because of poverty. What people don’t realise is that children are suffering from malnutrition in ‘developed’ countries, even though they have enough to eat. They may look well fed, but they are malnourished.”

There is NO debate as to the potential harms of sugar. Yet for some reason, sugar and processed foods form a major part of the diets of so many of our children. And sugar may be worse for kids than it is for adults largely due to their under developed body systems.

Children, like adults, need ‘real food’.

Animal protein and fat (healthy fats like animal fats, olive and coconut NOT vegetable oil) are what is essential for growth, development and repair.

Again referring back to Christine,

“If you start you child’s day with eggs fried in butter, you have already packed them full of vitamins A, B, D, E, K, iron, zinc, calcium, lecithin, iodine and more.”

Compare that to the total lack of nutrients and excessively high sugar found in cereals. You think your child would feel a little different? Compound that over the years and is it any wonder we have a mental and physical health epidemic on our hands.

No one – but especially children – does well on processed foods.

Eat. Real. Food.

As Dr Lucy Burns said yesterday, “Don’t give your hard earned money to processed food companies who have no regard for your health or your families health.”