Consumption of sugary beverages is responsible 2 million new cases of type 2 diabetes and approximately 1.2 million new cases of heart disease According to a new study, every year around the world. Research published in journal Narture Medicinesaid that while sugar is a big health issue around the world, most people in Colombia, Mexico and South Africa have the worst health problems related to sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs).

Studies show that sugary drinks account for more than 50 percent of all new cases of type 2 diabetes in Colombia.

Furthermore, in sub-Saharan Africa, SSBs are directly responsible for more than 20 percent of all new cases of diabetes. And in Latin America and the Caribbean, they contribute about 24 percent of diabetes and 11 percent of cardiovascular diseases. “We need urgent, evidence-based interventions to curb the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages globally, before even more lives are lost from their effects on diabetes and heart disease,” said Dr. At the University of Washington. said epidemiologist and study author Dr. Laura Lara-Castor. , said in a news release.

Why do sugar-sweetened beverages harm your health?,

All sugary beverages are not only full of calories but also full of calories devoid of nutrition and quickly digestedDue to which you feel more hungry. Over time, this can lead to weight gain and obesity, resistance to insulin, and many other metabolic problems that are directly related to most deaths.

Because they are cheap and popular, SSBs are mostly sold in low- and middle-income countries. “Not only are these communities consuming harmful products, but they are also often less equipped to deal with long-term health consequences,” Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, study author and director of Tufts University’s Food is Medicine Institute, said in a news release . release.

Data from Boston University School of Public Health showed that when the prices of sugary beverages increased in five cities across the US, consumption decreased.

Furthermore, when SSBs were taxed in several California cities, sales of the beverages declined – and so did the average BMI of youth. Taxes and other public health approaches may also be effective in other countries. “Much more needs to be done,” says Mozaffarian, “especially in countries in Latin America and Africa where consumption is high and has serious health consequences.”

Best Sugar Alternatives

Although it’s perfectly healthy to occasionally enjoy foods with small amounts of added sugar, keeping your total sugar intake to a minimum can help reduce your risk of these conditions and improve your health in other ways. .

If you want to cut down on your intake of common refined sweeteners like white sugar, there are several options to choose from. Some of these are even zero calorie, such as:

stevia

Stevia is a natural sweetener obtained from the leaves of stevia rebaudiana, A South American shrub. It can be derived from one of two compounds called glycosides—stevioside and rebaudioside A—which are calorie-free.

monk fruit extract

From what is monk fruit extract obtained? siritia grosvenori Despite being 300 times sweeter than plant and table sugar, it contains no calories.

Allulose

Allulose – also known as D-allulose, is a monosaccharide that is naturally present in some fruits. It has 70 percent sweetness of table sugar and provides only 0.2 calories per gram.

Dates

Dates are popular dry fruits and are an excellent alternative to refined sugar and offer many health benefits.

Applesauce

The sugar can be easily replaced with applesauce or other fruit purees like bananas to reduce your refined sugar intake.

Yacon Syrup

Extracted from the yacon plant, this syrup is native to South America and is a sweet, dark-colored and thick consistency liquid that resembles molasses.

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