"Dukbune Gangnam-e Jip Sageosseoyo" Dentist Observes Tanghulu Craze

"Tanghuru? Delicious but Worst for Cavities"
"Might Be Better to Eat It All at Once"

Amid the continued popularity of Tanghulu among young people, a dentist has evaluated it as "tasty but the worst for cavities."

Recently, a video was uploaded on the YouTube channel 'Dentist Jjin' where a dentist expressed concerns after tasting Tanghulu. The dentist said, "It definitely tastes good," but also warned, "From a dentist's perspective, Tanghulu seems to be the worst food for cavities."

He explained, "Since it is a food coated with sugar, it sticks to the teeth in a sticky way, which likely results in a very high cavity-causing index," adding, "If the Tanghulu trend continues, I think I might be able to buy a house in Gangnam soon."

When asked whether eating Tanghulu would increase the number of cavity patients, the dentist answered, "Yes." He said, "Even if you brush your teeth, there are tiny grooves on the teeth," and "The sugars lodged in these grooves are smaller than toothbrush bristles, so even brushing won't completely remove them." He added, "The frequency of consumption affects cavities more than the amount eaten," and "It's better to eat it all at once rather than once a day."

Popular Dessert Among 1020 Generation 'Tanghulu'... Search Volume Increased 47 Times in 6 Months

[Image source=Getty Images Bank]

Tanghulu is a Chinese dessert made by coating fruit with sugar syrup and hardening it. Interest in Tanghulu has grown as ASMR videos featuring the sound of the sugar layer cracking and the fruit being bitten have increased. Thanks to this popularity, the domestic Tanghulu franchise with the most branches, Dalkom Wangga Tanghulu, currently operates 420 stores nationwide.

Delivery volume is also surging. According to Woowa Brothers' 'Baemin Trend 2023 Fall/Winter Edition,' the search volume for Tanghulu on Baedal Minjok in July increased 47.3 times compared to January. Additionally, in the 'Food Industry Statistical Information' released by the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation, from July 30 to August 9, the top two popular search terms in the frozen and convenience food category were Ice Tanghulu and Tanghulu.

Continued Popularity of Tanghulu... "Risk of Diabetes and Obesity May Increase"

[Image source=Getty Images]

However, experts advise avoiding Tanghulu as well as zero-calorie Tanghulu as much as possible. Professor Heo Yang-im of the Department of Family Medicine at Bundang CHA Hospital stated on YTN's 'News Rider,' "Looking at the ingredients used to make Tanghulu, it is coated with starch syrup or sugar, so the intake of simple sugars like sugar, in addition to the natural fructose in the fruit, is very high, which is problematic." She pointed out, "The recommended daily intake of sugar is 50g, but according to research, one Tanghulu contains 25g of sugar, so eating just one means consuming half of the daily recommended amount."

She continued, "Reducing simple sugar intake is very important during growth periods," and warned, "If you suddenly consume a lot of sugar, insulin is excessively secreted to lower blood sugar, and continuous excessive insulin secretion can cause insulin resistance (a state where insulin action is reduced), increasing the risk of diabetes. Naturally, calorie intake also rises, increasing the risk of obesity."

Regarding 'zero Tanghulu,' which uses artificial sweeteners instead of sugar, Professor Heo said, "Since it can stimulate us to keep seeking sweetness, it is better to avoid zero Tanghulu as well."