Are your kids eating camouflaged cookies for breakfast? Look again!

It is sad that the top selling children's breakfast cereals are still loaded with sugar. In fact, one cup of the most popular contain more sugar than a Twinkie! According to the Environmental Working Group, less than a quarter of these cereals even meet the proposed federal recommendations. In addition to sugar, these cereals are high in sodium and contain artificial flavors and colors.

PositiveTip: Parents: read the ingredient lists and food labels, do the simple math, and only place wholesome, healthy cereals on your table.

Sugar can negate the beneficial effects of omega 3 fats in mice.

Among the many benefits of the polyunsaturated n-3 fatty acids (omega-3 fats) is that they protect against high-fat diet induced obesity and the inflammation of fat cells  Researchers have found that excess table sugar (sucrose) added to the diets of mice significantly reduced the anti-inflammatory properties of these beneficial fats, and increased obesity.

PositiveTip: How much sugar are you using? Too much may counteract the good fats found in nuts, plant oils and some fish.

High fat and sugar intake may change hormone secretion toward weight gain.

Diets with higher levels of fat and sugar appear to change hormone levels in favor of weight gain. Consuming high fat and sugar foods increases insulin and ghrelin, two hormones that are related to weight gain while decreasing leptin, which aids in weight loss.

PositiveTip: Consuming a vegetarian or Mediterranean type diet can aid efforts to lose weight.

Drinking 1 can of soda each day for a year results in 15 pounds weight gain!

How would you illustrate the consequences of drinking one can of soda per day for a year? Last year the New York City Department of Health unleashed a series of posters in a campaign to get people to reduce their intake of sugary sodas. Now they have kicked it up a notch with a wordless 30-sec video that certainly grabs attention! The truth is actually worse. One daily 12 oz. can of soda would result in 15.5 pounds of weight gain in a year.

PostiveTip: Beware of the big gulp, even if consumed in smaller gulps. They have no nutrients, just unneeded calories.

Added sugars bring sour side-effects, such as high triglycerides.

A substantial portion of Americans' calorie intake comes from added sugars. A recent study found that adults consume nearly one-sixth (15.8%) of their daily calories from sugar added to food. This is up from only 10.6% in 1977-78!

Consumption of two or more sodas per week increased risk of pancreatic cancer by 87%.

The Singapore Chinese Health Study followed 60,524 adults for up to 14 years to examine the possible link between deadly pancreatic cancer and sugar-laden soda consumption. Persons consuming two or more soft drinks per week were 87% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer compared to those who did not drink soft drinks. These results were adjusted for known confounders such as smoking. No statistically significant association was found between fruit juice consumption and pancreatic cancer.

PositiveTip: Soft drinks contribute nothing but calories to our diet--and may pose some serious risks such as a deadly cancer. Water still remains the liquid of choice for robust health!

The sour-side of the breakfast cereal industry--advertising junk cereals to our kids.

Preschoolers in America annually see an average of 642 cereal ads targeted directly at them--a majority of those for sugar-laden brands. Sadly, the least healthy cereals are the ones advertised most to children. Is it any wonder then that our children clamor to start the day with sugary cereals, laying the foundation for future obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay. According to the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University, cereals marketed directly to children have 85% more sugar, 65% less fiber, and 60 more sodium that those targeted at adults.

Risk of obesity in youth increases by 60% for every serving of sugar-sweetened beverage per day.

A prospective study involving ethnically diverse middle-school children in four Massachusetts communities over the course of 2 school years showed the risk of becoming obese increased by 60% for every additional serving of sugar-sweetened beverage consumed per day. This held true after adjusting for confounding variables.

PositiveTip: There is no nutritional need for sugar-sweetened beverages. Water is a better substitute and is a lot easier on the pocketbook!