“Neither alcohol, nor drugs, nor smoking, nor lack of physical activity, nor sugary carbonated drinks have such a harmful effect on the body as salt. In Kyrgyzstan, its consumption is at a high level. We add salt both during the cooking process and to ready-made dishes. In cafes and restaurants, salt is available on the tables, and it can be added as much as desired. If there is not enough salt in food, it becomes unappetizing, and we lose the sense of what vegetables or meat can taste like without salt. Even our national drinks contain salt, which causes thirst,” the minister emphasized.
Sugar ranks second in terms of harm. Compotes and sodas contain a large amount of sugar, which creates a desire to drink them again and again. People may mistakenly believe that they are becoming more energetic, but in reality, insulin levels rise sharply and then fall just as quickly, leading to a constant need for new food intake.Checheybaev also added that excise taxes on these harmful products, as well as on alcohol and tobacco products, should be increased.
