Adulteration in sweets can prove risky to health

With a large percentage of the population already dealing with diabetes, hypertension and other lifestyle diseases, such sweets may lead to more serious complications, they add.

Doctors say Deepavali is a time when the glucose levels of all people with diabetes go through the roof. A large number of milk sweets are adulterated with powders, detergents and even chemical preservatives that can prove harmful to the people suffering with chronic diseases.

“The blood sugar levels in those suffering with heart diseases, hypertension and diabetes can be imbalanced and chronic diseases can be aggravated due to adulterants such as sweeteners and preservatives. A large number of children come with diarrhoeal and food poisoning issues during the festival seasons. Adulteration in milk sweets can lead to digestion issues, vomiting, gastritis, diarrhoeal diseases and food poisoning,” said Dr T Sundaram, chief, general medicine at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital.

Though sweets with artificial sweeteners can help prevent rise of sugars, they contain fats and calories due to concentration of milk, ghee and other oils. Dr V Mohan, chairman Dr Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre, said that high calorie and fat consumption leads to an increase in the lipid levels – the serum cholesterol and serum triglyceride levels – after the festive season. “Hence, when you do your check-up, insist on testing all the parameters relating to the sugar, lipids, kidney function tests, liver function tests and other organs. Most people hesitate to do these tests thinking that they are unnecessary,” he said.

He added that nuts and dry fruits should be preferred over sweets, as they are healthier, rich in protein fibre and healthy fats, which do not increase the cholesterol or sugar.