Consumption of sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) in Indonesia continues to rise, potentially causing the public to exceed safe daily sugar intake limits. In fact, excess sugar from beverages can increase the risk of various noncommunicable diseases such as obesity and diabetes.
This issue was highlighted by Dr Zuraidah Nasution, a lecturer in the Department of Community Nutrition at the Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition (FKGiz) at IPB University, during the IPB Podcast on the IPB TV YouTube channel.
“The recommended daily sugar intake limit is approximately 10 percent of daily energy needs. If the average energy requirement is 2.000 kilocalories, that amounts to about 50 grams of sugar, or the equivalent of four tablespoons,” she said.
Continuing to rise
Dr Zuraidah explained that various studies show that SSB consumption in Indonesia has risen sharply over the past two decades. In fact, Indonesia was once recorded as one of the countries with the highest consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in the Asian region.
Data from the Ministry of Health shows that the average sugar consumed from sugar sweetened beverages alone can reach about 50 percent of the recommended daily limit.
“Just imagine, 50 percent of that comes from beverages alone. That doesn’t even include food or other processed products that also contain added sugar,” she said.
This situation, she noted, is exacerbated by the easy access to sugary drinks, ranging from packaged beverages to ready to drink options like sweet tea, boba, or trendy coffee drinks, which often do not clearly list their sugar content.
Healthy from an early age
According to Dr Zuraidah, the habit of consuming sugary drinks often forms during childhood and can carry over into adulthood. Therefore, parents play a crucial role in fostering healthier consumption habits.
She advises parents not to keep sugary drinks at home and to encourage children to read the nutritional information labels on packaging.
“Simply put, we can reduce the likelihood of children becoming dependent on sugary drinks. For example, by not stocking sugary drinks at home or encouraging children to choose beverages with lower sugar content,” she explained.
However, she emphasized that people shouldn’t completely avoid sugary drinks, but should manage their sugar intake wisely.
“It doesn’t mean we can’t have them at all, but we need to be in control. Limit the amount, keep track of your total daily sugar intake, and balance it with a healthy lifestyle, such as eating fruits and vegetables, engaging in physical activity, and getting enough rest,” she concluded.
Source: IPB University
The Public Benefit Company co-founded by former First Lady Michelle Obama is on a mission to raise a healthier generation of kids
PLEZi Nutrition, the Public Benefit Company co-founded by former First Lady Michelle Obama on a mission to create higher standards for how the U.S. makes and markets food and beverages for kids, announced the launch of PLEZi FiZZ. A carbonated fruit drink that will be available this spring in three new flavours, PLEZi FiZZ builds upon the company’s inaugural product, PLEZi, and aims to reach an older demographic of tweens and teens.
PLEZi Nutrition was created to give parents a helping hand by offering healthier, great-tasting products that parents can feel good about giving their kids and – most importantly – that kids actually want. Kids are consuming far too much added sugar—on average, 53 pounds of added sugar per year. Sugar-sweetened beverages, also referred to as sugary drinks, are the leading source of added sugars for kids, which is why PLEZi Nutrition chose to start with a focus on beverages. The company offers products that ace the taste test but with lower sugar content and sweetness to help adjust kids’ palates to crave less sweetness overall. In addition to reducing sugar and sweetness, they are adding in nutrients kids need, all with the aim to replace sugary drinks and snacks.
PLEZi FiZZ has 70 % less sugar (8 g per 8.4 oz) than average leading soft drinks (28 g per 8.4 oz), no added sugar, plus 2 g fiber and nutrients like potassium and vitamin C. PLEZi FiZZ will launch in three flavours: Cherry Limeade, Lemon Lime Squeeze, and Strawberry Lemonade, and will be available for purchase across Amazon and select convenience stores and club stores starting this Spring.
“I’ve dedicated so much of my life to helping kids and families lead healthier lives. As First Lady, I worked to rally every sector of society toward this goal,” said former First Lady Michelle Obama, Co-Founder and Strategic Partner of PLEZi Nutrition. “While I’m proud of all we accomplished during those years at the White House, I’ve also learned that to truly push the food and beverage industry to do better by our kids, you have to work from the inside. I’m thrilled to build on those efforts through PLEZi Nutrition as we work to drive change throughout the entire food and beverage industry.”
Guided by a Kitchen Cabinet advisory group of experts in nutrition, public health, and parenting, PLEZi Nutrition is committed to serving as an educational platform, including through the company’s Nothing to Sugarcoat site. The goal is to engage with parents, caregivers, and families about their questions when it comes to kids’ health and to be transparent about what’s best for kids, like drinking water and eating whole fruits and vegetables, because PLEZi Nutrition’s products are not intended to replace water and whole foods.
“Nearly two thirds of U.S. youth consume sugary drinks like soda on a given day,” said Dr. Shale Wong, MD, MSPH, Pediatrician and Professor of Pediatrics and Family Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Member of the PLEZi Nutrition Kitchen Cabinet, and Mom of two teenagers. “We know that water or milk is always the best option for kids, and we’ll continue to recommend that first, but kids who are used to drinking soda daily often have a hard time making the switch. We in the public health community have been pleading for decades to drink water and frankly that alone isn’t working. It is clear to me that families need better options if we are going to shift the health of the country, especially for our kids.”
Furthermore, PLEZi Nutrition is dedicated to giving back. Building upon a $1 million commitment to FoodCorps’ Nourishing Futures initiative, PLEZi Nutrition will be investing 10 % of profits right back into the broader movement to promote kids’ health.
