Revista de nutrición y pérdida de peso

Abstracto

Alternative and Supplementary Health Model on Traditional Sugars

Karthikeyan Nagarajan, Acharya Balkrishna , Paran Gowda

This article reviews nutraceutical properties of traditionally processed sugar products in view of food policy implications in India. This review gains importance in the light of overconsumption of foods rich in sugar, salt and fat, in the recent decades, and the associated epidemic of non-communicable diseases in India and rest of the world. Food policy in India does not signify the traditional sugars. We have presented an alternative health model to analyse nutraceutical properties of traditional sugars and distinguish them from refined sugars. We have evolved this model using ancient health wisdom of India. Traditional sugars are distinct from refined sugars by composition, nutritional benefits, rate of energy release and medicinal values. The traditional sugars are rich in nutraceuticals properties while the refined sugars are of empty calories. Research proofs show that the traditional sugars possess immunological properties, cyto-protective features, anti-toxicity effects and anti-cariogenic characteristics. The traditional products have also been proved to have positive health effects on diabetes and hypertension. Yet, the refined sugar products do not possess such properties. We recommend the policy makers to take action to list the nutraceutical properties of the traditional sugars in international scientific databases. We also suggest the policy makers of India that traditional sugars need to be distinguished from refined sugars in food labeling standards.