The pearl milk tea currently on the market is mostly made from non-dairy creamer, food coloring, artificial flavoring, tapioca pearls (the "boba" in milk tea), and tap water. The main ingredient of non-dairy creamer is hydrogenated vegetable oil, which is a type of trans fatty acid. Experts point out that the trans fatty acid content in one 500ml cup of pearl milk tea already exceeds the limit that the human body can normally tolerate, and consumers are prone to cardiovascular diseases. According to an undercover investigation by a reporter, 1 kilogram of non-dairy creamer can be used to make 100 cups of milk tea, with a cost of only 0.4 to 0.6 yuan, while the selling price ranges as high as 3 to 6 yuan. This can be described as a huge profit margin.
Trans fatty acids, also known as trans fats or trans unsaturated fatty acids, are a type of unsaturated artificial vegetable oil. Common artificial cream and margarine in daily life belong to trans fatty acids. The "hydrogenation" process used to create trans fatty acids prevents the molecules from oxidizing, turning liquid oils into semi-solid fats suitable for special purposes and extending their shelf life. According to health experts, foods that people often eat, such as biscuits, crackers, shortbread, chocolate, salad dressing, french fries, doughnuts, cream cakes, pancakes, potato chips, and fried instant noodles, all contain varying amounts of trans fatty acids. Trans fatty acids have seven major effects on human health.
The content of trans fatty acids in natural foods is almost zero. It is difficult for the human body to absorb and digest, and it can easily lead to multiple physiological dysfunctions. It is a food additive completely created by humans. In fact, it is also a "killer" of human health.
1. Reduced memory. Research suggests that people with poor eating habits in their youth and middle age are more likely to suffer from Alzheimer's disease in old age. Trans fatty acids inhibit a type of cholesterol that promotes human memory.
2. Weight gain. Trans fatty acids are not easily digested by the human body and tend to accumulate in the abdomen, leading to obesity. People who like snacks like french fries should be on high alert, as the trans fatty acids in fried foods can cause significant fat accumulation.
3. Easy to trigger coronary heart disease. According to a recent study by the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, trans fatty acids can lower the levels of cholesterol that effectively prevents heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases.
4. Easy to form blood clots. Trans fatty acids increase the viscosity and coagulability of human blood, which can easily lead to the formation of blood clots. This is especially harmful for the elderly with fragile blood vessel walls.
5. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, excessive intake of foods containing trans fatty acids will affect the health of the fetus. Studies have found that fetuses or infants can passively ingest trans fatty acids through the placenta or breast milk. They are more susceptible to essential fatty acid deficiency than adults, affecting their growth and development.
6. Affects male fertility. Trans fatty acids reduce the secretion of male hormones and have a negative impact on the motility of sperm, interrupting the sperm's reaction process within the body.
7. Affects the absorption of essential fatty acids in adolescents during their growth and development period. Trans fatty acids can also have adverse effects on the development of the central nervous system in adolescents.