So sweet but the sugar is scary

The UAE is among the first consumers of sugar with an average of 213 kg per year, which equates to 53,591 teaspoons a year or 147 teaspoons per person on average, according to new data. Sugar is 30 grams (five teaspoons) for people aged 11 and over, UAE figures are nearly 30 times higher. According to the American Heart Association, the maximum amount of sugar consumed by men is 150 calories a day, while women can consume up to 100 calories.

The dataset was created by the British insurance provider Protectivity in May 2018. Data from the Foreign Administration Database of the Ministry of Agriculture of the States -United. Data on human sugar consumption for countries not included in the USDA report came from manual searches using the latest available data.

In 2017, the UAE introduced a tax on sweetened beverages and cigarettes to reduce unhealthy consumption. Sugar soft drink prices are now 50% higher, while the retail price of energy drinks has increased by 100%.

According to statistics, the UAE has the fifth highest rate of soft drink consumption in the world. than any other country outside the American continent.

Estimates show that a UAE resident consumes an average of 103 liters of soft drinks a year. An average adult consumes 3,000 calories a day

With a high incidence of diabetes of 15.6% in adults according to the International Diabetes Foundation (IDF), such sugar intake is worrisome, nutritionists said .

Takidin, clinical nutritionist at the Canadian Specialty Hospital, said, "Sugar is a major source of energy, but high intake can lead to a variety of health problems such as tooth decay, weight, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. 19659003] "The impact of sugar on the body is more complex than weight gain: an excessive amount of sugar can age at the cellular level and exhaust all parts of the body, which can have short-term and long-term effects. long-term health, "she said

In December, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) launched a campaign to highlight the health risks associated with the consumption of beverages sweetened in large quantities.

The campaign "Your health comes first" under the slogan "Overcoming the habit … fighting extra sugar" also aimed to raise awareness of chronic diseases associated with the consumption of large amounts of sugar.

Nouf Khamis, deputy director of the department of health education and promotion, explained that the subject of sugary drinks was chosen because many drinks contain large amounts of sugar that exceed the daily need for sugar added in the diet; this, in turn, affects daily calorie intake, and can lead to weight gain and other related diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

"We seek to correct misconceptions about sweetened drinks."

"In addition, we hope to reduce sugar consumption among individuals to adhere to recommendations," she said. Alaa, once a person reduces the excess sugar in their diet, the body begins to feel healthier. "They begin to feel younger, happier and more energetic. and nourishing foods contributes to weight loss, boosts the immune system and reduces the risk of various health problems, "she said Alaa

The implementation of the tax on sweetened beverages is One of the key measures of the national action plan against noncommunicable diseases of the United Arab Emirates (2017-2017) 2021).

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] Asma Ali Zain

Associated with KT for 15 years. estions of health, the Pakistani community, human interest stories as well as general topics for news or daily features.