STARTING today (Feb. 11) the Public Health Ministry together with nine major beverage brands in Thailand have started implementing a new “normal sweetness” standard with this being 50% less than before to help decrease the risk of getting overweight and developing non-communicable diseases (NCDs), Amarin TV said.
Among the nine beverage brands joining the reduced sweetness drive are Cafe Amazon, Inthanin, All Cafe, Black Canyon, Phanthai and Chaodoi.
This measure uses behavioural economics theory to adjust the initial order value. Previously, ordering “normal sweetness” might have exceeded healthy sugar levels, but now it automatically becomes only 50% of the original recipe’s sweetness.
As 16-ounce (approximately 473ml) drinks will have their sweetness reduced so freshly brewed coffee, which normally contains 100% sweetness or regular sweetness averaging 7.3 teaspoons of sugar, will from today (Feb. 11) onwards, only contain 3.7 teaspoons. Likewise iced tea and milk tea, which normally contain 6.6 teaspoons of sugar, will be reduced to 3.3 teaspoons.
The ministry’s Health Department said its “regular sweetness = 50% sweetness” campaign has five benefits for the skin and body as follows:
1/ Breaks the cycle of “premature aging”: Reducing sugar intake which damages skin structure leads to a “younger-looking face, less wrinkles, and reduced acne inflammation.”
2/ Say goodbye to “hyperactivity”: Stable blood sugar levels allow for “longer concentration at work or study, reduced irritability, and less afternoon fatigue.”
3/ Reduces belly fat: Reducing sugar by half in every glass helps you achieve a flatter stomach, less water retention, and a more toned figure without resorting to more strenuous exercise.
4/ Recover your taste buds: Ordering 50% less sugar is a middle ground in desensitisation training. With consistency, your tongue will begin to appreciate the natural flavours of fruits or rice better, making clean or less-sweet foods taste even better.
5/ Give your liver and pancreas a break: Reducing the burden on your liver and pancreas (which produce insulin) by half reduces the risk of fatty liver disease and diabetes in the future, allowing your metabolism to work more efficiently.
Normally, taste bud cells for sweetness take an average of 14 days to regenerate. That’s why it’s normal to find the first glass with 50% less sugar “not tasty” . But for those who tell themselves “I can do this!” for more than 10 days, reducing sugar by half will no longer be difficult!
CAPTION:
Some tasty drinks which are 50% less sweeter than before for today onwards. Photo – Amarin TV
Also read:
People’s calls for recounting of votes in 10 questionable constituencies
Recount of votes in all five constituencies of Supanburi demanded
Pheu Thai unnecessary for Bhumjaithai-led coalition govt
Dozen designated People’s MPs retroactively charged with lese majeste lawsuit
Bhumjaithai scores landslide victory over People’s
At Last, People’s coming up with one-word campaign message – change
Bhumjaithai ‘most prepared’ to become core of post-election govt: Thammanat
Pitutecha family divided in Rayong’s constituency-based tug of war
Democrats tipped to get nearly 40 MP seats, mostly from southern constituencies
Anutin promises to build a wall in Ubon to keep out Khmer intruders
Pheu Thai launches nine-millionaires-a-day campaign
Four ex-MPs vie against one another in Lopburi constituency
‘Big House’ contestants battle against each other in Chachoengsao
