Have you ever stopped to think how much sugar you consume per day, per week or per year? He's everywhere: at breakfast, afternoon tea, cakes, breads and that sweet after lunch. Despite being ubiquitous, it can be a poison to our health, and China is already aware of this characteristic.
This is because, as published by the Gulf News website, the average daily consumption of sugar of the Chinese population is around 30.4 grams per person. It is almost half the world average.
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In the United States, for example, this number is 84.7 grams. In the United Arab Emirates, it is 79.2 grams, and in India, 51.2 grams.
And a detail: the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that a person's daily intake of sugar be bottom to 50 grams.
China is a producer but not a consumer of sugar
China is one of the biggest sugar producers in the world – as are India, the United States and even Brazil. However, it is not an avid consumer.
It turns out that the country has a long history with sugar and consumed it differently. Unlike Brazil, which prioritized the carbohydrate extracted from sugar cane, the Chinese ate maltose, produced from the breakdown of starch. Only later did they master refining technology.
In addition, traditionally, the cuisine of early Chinese civilizations sought to balance food in five aspects: sweetness, acidity, bitterness, pungency and salinity. This statement is from the professor and researcher of historical geography at the Southwest University of China, Yong Lan.
In short: sugar was used only as a condiment to give the dish extra flavor. It was never a standout ingredient. And this tradition was passed from father to son until it reached the present day.
Accessibility and culture
According to Dr Chen Zhu, a professor at the Agricultural University of China, another factor that contributing to the low consumption of sugar in the Asian giant is the poor accessibility to food candy. This includes the price and offer.
“[In China], the accessibility of sugar and sweet foods is relatively limited compared to Western countries,” she explains. “This includes lower-sugar drinks available in the supermarket and smaller packs of white sugar sold in stores.”
She also claims that this makes the cost of the product higher, which decreases the propensity for frequent consumption.
Another important factor for the low consumption of this carbohydrate in the country is an ancient Chinese tradition: drink warm water.
Research published in the Food Quality and Preference Journal showed that the habit of drinking this liquid can intensify the taste of sugar. In this way, eating too much sweets can be a very nauseating experience.
Graduated in Social Communication at the Federal University of Goiás. Passionate about digital media, pop culture, technology, politics and psychoanalysis.
