The European Court of Justice has ruled against a German company selling glucose products. It said the firm must not use adverts with positive health claims, thus confirming an earlier ruling on the issue.
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The European Union's top court on Thursday upheld a 2016 decision by a lower court, saying that a German company selling glucose products could not use ads that claimed its products had a positive impact on people's health.
Germany's Dextro Energy is not allowed to advertise the alleged health benefits of its products, because the claims clash with official EU health messages that consumers are well-advised to reduce their sugar intake.
Glucose is a type of sugar, and the fact that it's found in plants (and also in the human blood) doesn't make things any better, the court ruled, as excessive sugar consumption can lead to obesity and damage teeth, which in turn can result in other medical problems.
Confusing messaging
Dextro Energy had requested authorization to use health claims such as "glucose contributes to metabolism" and "glucose contributes to normal muscle function."
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But both the EU executive and the courts said such messaging would be confusing to consumers, because it would encourage them to eat more sugar.
Consumer protection agency Foodwatch called on the European Commission to do more to prevent companies from using adverts with dubious health claims.
"There are no clear regulations in this field, and policymakers are called upon to remedy that situation," said Foodwatch spokeswoman Sophie Unger.
hg/jd (dpa, AFP)
Bitter truth about sugar
Sugar is tasty, but not exactly good for you. Consumption of the sugary stuff is rising, and that’s having an impact on health. The WHO has warned of a “global epidemic.” Here are a few facts you really should know.
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Sugar makes you fat!
Sugar is converted to fat in the body about two to five times more quickly than starches. In other words, when we consume sugar, we’re feeding our fat cells. The fructose in sugar is also metabolized by the liver, which can contribute to fatty liver disease. That can promote insulin resistance and lead to Type 2 diabetes – with a lifelong impact on your health.
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Sugar affects your mood!
In small amounts, sugar promotes the release of serotonin, a hormone that boosts mood. But too much sugar can promote depression and anxiety. Sudden shifts in blood sugar levels can also lead to irritability, anxiety and mood swings.
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Sugar contributes to aging!
We already know that sugar has a variety of health effects, but it also affects the skin. That’s in part due to glycation, the process whereby sugar molecules bind to collagen fibers. As a result, the collagen fibers lose their natural elasticity. Excess sugar also damages microcirculation, which slows cell turnover. That can promote the development of wrinkles, make you look older than your age.
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Sugar is harmful to your gut!
The microflora of your gut promote digestion and protect your digestive system from harmful bacteria. Consuming too much sugar gets your gut microflora out of whack. Fungi and parasites love sugar. An excess of the Candida albicans yeast can lead to a host of annoying health symptoms. And sugar also contributes to constipation, diarrhea and gas.
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Sugar can be addictive!
In overweight people, the brain responds to sugar by releasing dopamine, in much the same way that it responds to alcohol or other addictive substances. Test it yourself: avoid all sugary foods and beverages for ten days. If you start to get headachy and irritable after a day or two, and start craving sugar, then you could be suffering from sugar withdrawal.
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Sugar makes you aggressive!
People who consume excess sugar are more likely to engage in aggressive behavior. Children with ADHD are also affected by sugar. For these children, too much sugar affects concentration and promotes hyperactivity. That’s why it’s a good idea for children to avoid eating sugar during school hours.
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Sugar weakens the immune system!
Excessive sugar consumption makes it harder for the immune system to ward off disease. After consuming sugar, the immune system’s ability to kill germs is reduced by up to 40 percent. Sugar also saps the body’s store of vitamin C, which white blood cells need to fight off viruses and bacteria. Sugar also promotes the inflammatory response, and even minor inflammation can trigger numerous diseases.
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Sugar promotes Alzheimer’s disease!
Studies have shown that excess sugar consumption increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. A 2013 study showed that insulin resistance and high blood sugar values – both of which are common in diabetes – are associated with a higher risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
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Sugar increases cancer risk!
Cancer cells need sugar to proliferate. An international research team headed by Lewis Cantley of Harvard Medical School is researching how sugar might contribute to the growth of malignant cells. He believes that refined sugar may be what causes cancer cells to develop into tumors. He’s still testing that hypothesis but recommends that even slender people consume as little sugar as possible.
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Sugar makes you stupid!
Excess sugar consumption may have a negative impact on memory. According to a study carried out by Berlin’s Charité University Hospital, people with high blood sugar levels have a smaller hippocampus – the part of the brain that’s key to long term memory. In the study, people with high blood sugar also performed more poorly on tests of memory than those with low blood sugar levels.
