Jakarta –
The sweet taste of food and drinks does provide pleasure in itself. However, behind that it can be risky for health. Here’s how to enjoy it so it doesn’t endanger your health.
Consuming sweet foods and drinks can improve your mood. That’s because sugar plays a role in releasing the hormone dopamine and the nucleus accumbens in the brain, thereby giving a feeling of happiness.
However, behind this momentary pleasure, there are many negative impacts on health that can be fatal in the long term. This has been proven by many studies in the world.
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Quoted from India Today (18/07/24), the following is an explanation regarding the consumption of sweet foods and drinks.
1. What the body experiences when consuming sugar
 Illustration of various types of sugar Photo: Freepik/azerbaijan_stockers |
Nutritionist Ritika Samaddar from Max Super Specialty Hospital in Delhi, India said that when you consume sugar, the sugar will be digested and broken down into glucose which is absorbed by the blood.
“Glucose increases blood sugar levels and also causes the release of insulin, so that glucose can be absorbed by muscles to produce energy,” said Ritika Samaddar.
Meanwhile, excessive sugar intake can cause many risks. Starting from fatty liver, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and weight gain.
2. Is sugar healthy?
A nutritionist named Veena V from Aster Whitefield Hospital, Bengaluru recommends always choosing natural sugars, such as fructose which is found in many fruits and vegetables.
If consumed in whole food form, fructose contains fiber, vitamins and minerals. These nutrients can reduce some of the negative effects caused by sugar.
Another way is to choose a source of lactose, which is found in milk. Lactose is broken down into glucose and galactose in the body. There is also sucrose found in some vegetables.
“Even though all sugar eventually turns into glucose, natural sugar tends to be a better choice because of the added nutrients and slower absorption rate,” says Kanikka Malhotra.
Meanwhile, nutritionist Salini Somasundar said that brown sugar is a healthier choice than refined white sugar. That’s because it is processed in a natural way to maintain the natural nutrients of sugar cane, including vitamins and minerals.
“Coconut sugar which comes from the flower buds of coconut trees and palm sugar which is made from palm tree sap are also good choices,” he continued.
