Sugary drinks are one of the common sources of free sugar, but are also easily overlooked in daily meals. In a short time, a large amount of sugar can be introduced into the body and the drinker almost has no feeling of fullness.
Notably, fructose in sugary drinks is metabolized mainly in the liver. When consumed in excess, fructose can promote fat production in the liver, thereby increasing the risk of fat accumulation and developing fatty liver.
White sugar (sucrose) is also not entirely harmless. Sucrose consists of glucose and fructose, so excessive consumption, especially through sugary drinks, can still increase the amount of sugar and energy put into the body.
It is noteworthy that fatty liver is not only found in overweight people or those who regularly eat fried foods. A high-sugar diet, especially drinks high in sugar and fructose, is also a factor that needs to be concerned about.
When eating solid foods, the process of chewing and the presence of fiber, protein, fat and other nutrients can contribute to a feeling of fullness, thereby helping to control the amount of food intake.
Meanwhile, sugary drinks almost do not require chewing and are often consumed very quickly. A bottle or can of soft drink can provide a significant amount of sugar in just a few minutes, but create a very low feeling of fullness. Therefore, drinkers can still continue to eat normally, causing the total amount of energy ingested to increase.
In other words, the problem is not only in the amount of sugar in a cup of milk tea or a can of soft drink, but also in the fact that sugar in liquid form is easily consumed quickly and difficult to create a corresponding feeling of fullness.
With sugary foods, sugar is often accompanied by other components such as fiber, protein, or fat. These components can slow down digestion and absorption, while contributing to a feeling of fullness.
