In addition to the increasing amount of fizzy and sugary drinks in the summer, coffees prepared with syrup also invite diseases. While the artificial sweetener ‘aspartame’ is the most commonly used in sugary drinks that cause many problems, especially obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, Timur Erk, the President of the Turkish Kidney Foundation, who brought the issue of public health to the agenda, says that they are concerned about the products whose consumption is rapidly increasing. Erk states that canned fizzy drinks and drinks with high sugar content, whose consumption is rapidly increasing due to the effect of hot weather, trigger serious health problems, and warns, “Turkey is third in the world in obesity after America and Mexico. These drinks invite diabetes, obesity, chronic kidney diseases, heart diseases and dental problems.”
3 TIMES MORE CONSUMPTION
In the guidelines published by the World Health Organization, it is emphasized that a healthy individual should consume 50 grams of simple sugar per day. However, Sugar consumption per capita in Turkey is 150 grams, which is three times this rate. These amounts increase exponentially during the summer months. The biggest problem is the increasing amount of fizzy and sugary drinks, as well as coffees prepared with syrup. The artificial sweetener aspartame, which is claimed to be carcinogenic, is used in these products.
A 100 BILLION DOLLAR MARKET
Aspartame, whose chemical formula is ‘aspartyl-phenylalanine-1-methyl ester’, was first discovered by James M. Schlatter in 1965. The artificial sweetener aspartame, which was approved for use in the USA in 1974, is included in products with the code E951 as a food additive in the European Union. The products with the code E951 include carbonated diet drinks, soft drinks, fruit yogurt, ready-made desserts and almost all foods used by diabetics. YapIt is claimed that the moon sweetener market has a global trade volume of 100 billion dollars.
HID THE LOSS
Stating that ‘Aspartame’ is one of the main compounds used by food giants that dominate the global market, Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Ayça Kaya said, “There is a huge market worth 100 billion dollars. Until now, researchers’ studies on the harmful effects of artificial sweeteners have been swept under the rug. “The food industry does not want to give up ‘aspartame’, but the compound in question poses serious health risks,” he says.
EQUIVALENT TO 10 TEASPOONS
Specialist Dr. Hümeyra Rekalı Şahin from the Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrine and Metabolism, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, stated that fizzy drinks, ready-made fruit juices, energy drinks, ready-made lemonade and syrups invite diseases, and said, “Beverages containing more than 11 grams of sugar in 100 ml of beverage are defined as high-sugar beverages. For example, a can of sugary drink contains about 39 grams of sugar, which is about 10 teaspoons of sugar. A can of sugary drink, on average, is about 150 calories.” provides information.
JUST ADD MILK
Dietician Gökçen Efe Aydın suggested making healthy, practical drinks with ingredients at home instead of sugary, fizzy drinks sold outside. Aydın said, “There are syrups of many fruits and vegetables in the coffees we buy outside.” “They all contain either sugar or starch-based sugar. Coffee should only be consumed with milk.” shared his knowledge.
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