Unmissable drink of children’s snacks and summer meals, syrup occupies a special place in many homes. However, behind his sweet and comforting taste, he hides a much less pleasing reality. Health professionals sound the alarm, starting with Dr. Arnaud Cocaul, a nutritionist doctor.
A “caloric bomb”
With mint, strawberry or grenadine, industrial syrups are among the sweetest drinks on the market. And the observation is final.
“”Syrups are industrial products. For a liter of water, you have 1.8 kg of sugar. So it’s an explosive sugar bomb“, Alerts Dr Cocaul.
This extreme concentration transforms an innocuous drink into a real source of empty calories, whose effects are soon to be felt.
Consequences on the liver and digestion
Excess sugar is far from trivial. “”Excess sugar is responsible for increasing fatty livers“Explains the nutritionist.
In medical language, this condition is called liver steatosis. It progresses quickly in France, largely due to the overconsumption of sugary drinks. “”Hepatic steatosis explodes in our country because of the abuse of sugary drinks. And syrup is one of the explanations to this“Confirm Dr Cocaul.
Beyond the liver, syrup can also disturb the digestive system. Bloating, discomfort and abdominal pain can touch people sensitive to fast sugars. “Functional colopathies” is the medical term used to designate these disorders linked to high glucose and fructose contents.
Can we still consume syrup without risk?
Should we banish the syrup of our kitchens? Not necessarily. Dr Cocaul offers tracks to reduce the impact of this health drink:
- Favor simple flavors : “If you take syrup, take syrups with the most basic perfumes as possible. So take strawberries, grenadine, things like that. But avoid taking things that are a little more gadget. “Complex perfumes are often even more loaded with sugar;
- Choose organic : Even if the sugar content remains the same, the organic label guarantees the absence of pesticides, additives and artificial dyes;
- Beware of “light” versions : “Be careful with ‘light’ syrups because there is the presence of sweeteners, which is not good for health. “
And the specialist recalling an essential rule: “The reference drink is water. Two thirds of the body weight consist of water and not syrup or sugar“.
A pleasure to consume in moderation
If the syrup remains appreciated by young and old, it must be consumed sparingly. The best way to preserve your health, while continuing to have fun, remains moderation.