Hidden worries! Survey: Yogurt = 11 sugar cubes

Health food is not healthy! Currently, there are more than 200 kinds of health foods certified by the Department of Health in China, and many brands also use health foods for advertising. However, the Tung Foundation recently sampled 74 common health foods such as yogurt, milk powder, soy milk, cow's milk, and fermented milk with live bacteria, and found that 17 of them were questionable. Although yogurt can increase the number of beneficial bacteria in the intestines, drinking the recommended daily amount of 400 ml will also make consumers consume as much sugar as 11 sugar cubes.

It is best not to consume more than 40 grams of refined sugar per day. (Photo courtesy of Tung Foundation)

Xu Huiyu, director of food nutrition at the Tung Foundation, said that some parents often let their children drink live bacteria fermented milk without worry. In order to achieve the health benefits, they need to drink 2 bottles a day, a total of 200 ml. It not only contains spices, but also consumes about 7 additional sugar cubes. According to the recommendations of the Department of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO), the intake of refined sugars, including sugar from fruits, should be less than 10% of the total daily calorie sources. Based on a daily intake of 1,600 calories per person, it is best not to exceed 40 grams. The sugar content of milk fermented with live bacteria is clearly above the standard.

A diversified diet is necessary to get a variety of nutrients. Some ingredients that achieve the functions of healthy foods can actually be obtained from natural foods. (Photo courtesy of Tung Foundation)

In addition, some health foods contain artificial additives. For example, although well-known carbonated beverages can increase the good bacteria "Bifidus" in the intestines, a closer look at the raw material ingredients reveals that a variety of flavorings, bulking agents, and coloring agents have been added, which are obviously harmful to the human body. The original purpose of health food certification was to prevent some businesses from making random claims about the health benefits of food. Although the intention was good, absurd phenomena occurred after the expansion of the scope from tablets and capsules to general food.

It is worth noting that "multinutrients" does not mean nutrition, and there are still many gray areas since the implementation of the Domestic Health Food Law. The irony is that questionable products can claim to be "healthy foods", but truly healthy foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables cannot claim to be "healthy".

Xu Huiyu suggested that in order to eat healthily, one must have a diversified diet to get a variety of nutrients. Some ingredients that achieve the functions of healthy foods can actually be obtained from natural foods, and are far better than taking extracts with added other ingredients.

For example, instead of drinking fermented milk which helps intestinal health, it is better to consume more high-fiber fruits and vegetables such as burdock, black fungus, shiitake mushrooms, whole grains, and seaweed. In addition to improving the intestinal bacterial flora, it can also create a growth environment for beneficial bacteria in the intestine and ingest a variety of nutrients.