"Sugar is the world's most dangerous food additive, and the existence of 'sugar addiction' is more common than 'alcohol addiction,' making it more worthy of vigilance," Mr. Adam, a professor at the University of Washington's Public Health Nutrition Center, warned the Chinese public.
At the "Sweetness and Health" academic seminar recently co-hosted by organizations including the China Office of the International Life Sciences Institute, Mr. Adam pointed out that humans' preference for sweetness is innate. This is because taste cells in the human body contain many sweet receptors. When people consume sweet foods, sweetness is transmitted through the nervous system, bringing a sense of pleasure. "However, sweet foods are rich in energy, such as cola, biscuits, chocolate, and ice cream. If people consume these sweet foods in excess, it will inevitably lead to an accumulation of energy in the body, causing overweight or obesity," he said.
He believes that since people are naturally fond of sweet foods, the existence of "sugar addiction" is more prevalent than "alcohol addiction" and therefore more worthy of vigilance.
Currently, the problems of being overweight and obese are becoming increasingly severe and have become a global challenge. Against this backdrop, the contradiction between enjoying sweetness and maintaining health has begun to attract widespread attention from society as a whole.
At present, foreign researchers have reached a consensus on "sweetness and health" and have proposed the concept of "sweetness management." "It is necessary for our country to introduce this concept, to educate the public on how to consume sugar reasonably, to eat less sugary drinks, fruits, and snacks in their daily diets, to pay attention to controlling sugar intake, and to develop healthy eating habits."