Vocational School of Justice
DESSERTS TO WATCH OUT FOR DURING THE SUGAR FEAST!
The experts warn about staying away from desserts that increase blood sugar quickly as people get ready to prepare desserts for the sugar feast with the Ramadan ending. They point out that the dessert consumption will increase, and that the body turns excess glucose into fat.
Prof. Dr. Nazan Turhan, Head of Department of Food Engineering, Izmir University of Economics (IUE) mentioned that dessert consumption would spike due to bayram visits, and she said, “Consuming pure sugar is very unhealthy. Using refined sugar (in tea-coffee) increases obesity and diabetics. The refined sugar, which increases blood sugar quickly and causes hunger immediately after, is the main ingredient of desserts. Individuals, who are genetically prone to heart diseases, over-stressed, inactive, smoking, have risk factors such as obesity, diabetics, and hypertension, with imbalanced diets in particular; need to consume minimum level of simple sugars.”
‘Sugar Does Not Contain Proteins, Vitamins’
Prof. Dr. Turhan indicated that fruits contained fructose, milk contained lactose, which were unrefined simple sugars, and it was much healthier to consume such products. She also said the sugar did not provide energy because it did not contain proteins, vitamins, and minerals combined. Prof. Dr. Turhan stated the following:
“When the blood sugar level is above the normal limits, it will be taken to sugar reserves in muscles and liver via insulin. Human body turns the excess glucose into body fats. Therefore, we need to decrease our consumption of products such as jams, marmalades, honey, cakes, pies, pastries, sweets, candies, carbonated beverages, concentrated fruit juices, cookies, etc. which are called ‘empty calorie sources’.”
'Serve watermelon slush'
Prof. Dr. Turhan stated that the human body satisfied the need for sugar through natural foods, and eating dessert only served to satisfy the sweet tooth. She said milk desserts provided the calcium, proteins, and vitamin B necessary for bone health. Prof. Dr. Turhan stated the following:
“Home-made fruit juices satisfy our need for water and sugar naturally. For example, you can serve watermelon slush to your guests this bayram. Simply put ice and watermelon in a blender and serve. Or home-made lemonade with fresh mint might be another healthy alternative.”