Long-term consumption of brown sugar can cause diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. (image: Daedong Hospital)
SEOUL, Jul. 16 (Korea Bizwire) – The buzz and popularity of ‘brown sugar bubble tea’ from Taiwan is continuing in South Korea.
However, brown sugar drinks are high in calories and sugar, which requires the attention of some consumers, including those with diabetes.
Brown sugar drinks are often advertised as having ‘healthy sweetness’ that is natural and unprocessed, but they actually contain 300 Kcal on average, which is equivalent to a bowl of rice.
The amount of sugar also stands at 40 grams, which comes close to the sugar consumption level the World Health Organization (WHO)’s recommends as a daily intake.
The WHO recommends 50 grams of sugar from processed foods.
Brown sugar, which is an added sugar, is rapidly absorbed, and increases blood sugar levels due to rapid digestion. It will then promote insulin over-dissipation, stress hormone release, and accumulates fat in the body.
Long-term consumption of brown sugar can cause diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.
Lee Min-jin, a physician at Daedong Hospital in Busan, pointed out that if the intake of sugar from processed foods exceeds 10 percent, the risk of diabetes increases by more than 40 percent compared to those who do not consume such foods, and the risk of diseases such as obesity and high blood pressure increases.
She advised that it would be better to make a habit of checking nutritional labels when purchasing beverages.
D. M. Park (dmpark@koreabizwire.com)
