A nutritionist yesterday said beverages with high-quality protein are a healthier choice for breakfast than tea, while a survey showed that milk tea or tea is the most popular breakfast beverage among Taiwanese aged 19 to 50.
The Nutrition Foundation of Taiwan survey found that about 90 percent of respondents buy their first meal of the day at breakfast stores and among them, 26.6 percent said they most often bought sweetened milk tea or tea with their meal, while soy milk (25.7 percent) and coffee (11.2 percent) were second and third.
Foundation chief executive Wu Ying-rong (吳映蓉) said most tea products at breakfast shops contain a lot of refined sugar, adding that long-term exposure to the substance can increase the risks of metabolic syndrome, or obesity.
Moreover, milk tea is usually not made with real milk, but rather non-dairy creamers containing trans fats, which can raise the body’s bad cholesterol levels and increase the likeliness of cardiovascular disease, Wu said.
Wu said milk tea products might taste good, but they are high in calories and low in nutrients, adding that drinking too much might cause a craving for more high-calorie food, as well as difficulty focusing.
The survey showed that only 2.5 percent of the people drink milk at breakfast.
Wu said that as most Taiwanese are not in the habit of drinking milk, calcium intake could become an issue if the rest of their diet is not high in calcium.
She said milk or yogurt can help avoid loss of bone density.
Serine Li (李婉萍), a nutritionist at Reshining Clinic, said the first drink of the morning is important, so people should choose low-sugar, high-nutrient beverages, or ones with high-quality protein.
The choice of breakfast can be tailored to suit different lifestyles, Li said.
Li said students preparing for tests should drink milk and eat egg sandwiches for their protein content so they can focus better, while office workers could eat vegetable rolls and drink yogurt to increase their fiber intake.
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