Nezam El-Tayebat Fact CheckA scientific assessment of the “نظام الطيبات” nutrition system
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Mostly false Certainty of evidence: moderate provisional C-SUG-06

Implicit in the system's lists: sugar-cane juice, canned juices, honey, jam and sweets are acceptable while sugar-sweetened soft drinks are harmful.

Safety note: People with diabetes, especially those using insulin or sulfonylureas, must not change sugar intake or medication without their treating physician. Free sugars should be limited (WHO: below 10% of energy, ideally below 5%).
Conclusion: Inconsistent: the sugar-related evidence against soda applies equally to juices, honey and sweets that the system allows.
  1. Original statement
  2. Scientific assessment
  3. In plain language
  4. Studies on this claim
  5. Regional context
  6. What applies in my country?
  7. References

Original statement

🎋 عصير قصب | 🧃 عصائر معلبة | 🍯 عسل ومربى وفواكه مجففة | مياه غازية بجميع أنواعها (محظورة)

verbatim according to source. Translation by the project; the Arabic wording is authoritative.

Translation

Implicit in the system's lists: sugar-cane juice, canned juices, honey, jam and sweets are acceptable while sugar-sweetened soft drinks are harmful.

Origin

Source status
Third-party site (unofficial)
Attribution
Third-party site altayybat.com (unofficial; lowest attribution level)
Origin
https://altayybat.com/ar/
Attribution uncertainty
The site states that it is unofficial. Items may not reflect Elawady's own lists.
Claimed mechanism

Not applicable.

Claimed health effect

Not applicable.

Population concerned

Followers of the system

Geographic restriction by Elawady

none found

Diverging source versions

Source status
Archive food list
Attribution
Archive food guide: 'Honey & jam — Allowed; Carbonated drinks — Avoid'
Origin
https://eltayebat.com/foods/
Attribution uncertainty
Food list without source video.
Source status
Video transcript (own words)
Attribution
Elawady (machine transcript)
Video
Dr.D Clinics - Diaa Al Awady is live! (Open source)
Published
12 January 2025
Timestamp
not available (transcript has no timings)
Attribution uncertainty
Machine/CC transcript; wording may contain transcription errors.
Source status
Video transcript (own words)
Attribution
Elawady (machine transcript)
Video
الجن . آلام العمود الفقري . الحقيقه والسراب (Open source)
Published
26 November 2025
Timestamp
not available (transcript has no timings)
Attribution uncertainty
Machine/CC transcript; wording may contain transcription errors.

Scientific assessment

Mostly false – Essential parts of the statement are not supported by the evidence or are strongly exaggerated.

Certainty of evidence: moderate – Further research may still affect the assessment.

1. What was claimed?

Sugary juices and sweets are acceptable; soda is the problem.

2. What is demonstrably correct?

Avoiding soft drinks is consistent with evidence. Juices contain some nutrients that soft drinks lack.

3. What is wrong or exaggerated?

With respect to sugar, cane juice, canned juices, honey and jam are free-sugar sources just like soft drinks (I-SUG-05). The archive justifies the soda ban mostly with sugar studies (C-SOD-01 to C-SOD-05), while the system permits other sugary drinks without quantity limits, and Elawady states that sugar is not his concern (C-SOD-13). Imamura 2015 concluded that fruit juice is unlikely to be a healthy alternative to SSB for diabetes prevention.

4. What remains unclear?

Health effects of traditional Egyptian sugar-cane juice specifically have not been studied in the reviewed literature.

5. Which studies support it?

A-SOD-08 (juice association), A-SOD-06 (juice and gout), I-SUG-05.

6. Which studies contradict it?

None.

7. What applies to Germany and Europe?

Applies.

8. What is known about Egypt?

Sugar-cane juice is a traditional drink in Egypt; no study of its specific health effects was reviewed.

9. What practical conclusion is appropriate?

If sugary sodas are avoided because of their sugar, sugary juices and sweets should be limited for the same reason.

Assessment details

Rationale for certainty of evidence

WHO defines free sugars to include sugars in honey, syrups and fruit juices; the archive's own soda evidence is largely about sugar; Imamura 2015 (cited by the archive) found fruit juice associated with type 2 diabetes after adjustment for adiposity (7% per serving) and Choi 2008 found fruit juice associated with gout. Evidence on 100% juice is weaker than for SSB.

Source quality

Lists from a third-party site and the archive food guide; Elawady's own words confirm he drinks cane juice as 'normal sugar' and that his objection to soda is not the sugar.

Regional transferability

Universal.

Individual exceptions

Small amounts within free-sugar limits are compatible with a healthy diet.

Regional scope of the claim
not specified
Last reviewed
25 October 2026 provisional

In plain language

The system bans fizzy drinks but allows sugar-cane juice, canned juices, honey, jam and sweets. The archive's main evidence against soda is about sugar. Health agencies count the sugar in juices and honey in the same way as the sugar in soda. So, in terms of sugar, these allowed drinks and foods share the main problem the archive describes for soda.

Studies on this claim

Studies supporting the claim (0)

No studies in this group.

Studies contradicting or limiting the claim (3)

  • Sugary drinks, diet drinks, juice and diabetes

    Imamura F et al.. BMJ 2015 · PMID 26199070 · DOI 10.1136/bmj.h3576
    Meta-analysiscited by the Tayebat archivefull text checked

    Each daily sugary drink was linked with 13-18% more diabetes; diet drinks and juice also showed (possibly biased) links.

    Fruit juice associated with T2D after adiposity adjustment (+7% per serving); authors: juice unlikely to be a healthy alternative.

    Does the study support the specific claim? Yes · Methodological quality: high · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim

    Original publication · Scientific details

    Study explained simply
    What did the researchers want to find out?

    Are SSB, ASB and fruit juice associated with T2D independently of adiposity?

    How was the study done?

    Systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis of prospective cohorts; PAF estimation (US, UK).

    How many people, animals or samples were studied?

    17 cohorts; 38,253 cases; 10,126,754 person-years; Adults without diabetes

    What was actually found?

    Per serving/day: SSB +18% (9-28%; I2 89%) and +13% (6-21%) after adiposity adjustment; ASB +25% and +8% (publication bias and residual confounding indicated); fruit juice +5% (-1 to 11%) and +7% (1-14%). PAF: 8.7% USA, 3.6% UK.

    How large was the observed effect?

    +18% per serving (+13% adiposity-adjusted)

    What do the results mean in everyday life?

    Neither diet drinks nor juice are proven healthier alternatives to sugary drinks.

    What are the study's limitations?

    High heterogeneity; observational studies; protocol not registered; ASB and juice results likely biased

    What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?

    Supports C-SOD-01; mixed for C-SOD-10; limits C-SUG-06 (juice association).

    Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?

    High (UK PAF estimated).

    What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?

    Causation; that diet drinks or juice cause diabetes; diet-drink effects on mortality

    Scientific details →

  • Soft drinks and gout in men

    Choi HK, Curhan G. BMJ 2008 · PMID 18244959 · DOI 10.1136/bmj.39449.819271.BE
    Cohort studycited by the Tayebat archiveabstract only checked

    Two or more sugary sodas a day: 85% higher gout risk; fruit juice also linked; diet soda not.

    Fruit juice and fructose-rich fruits were also associated with gout.

    Does the study support the specific claim? Yes · Methodological quality: moderate · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim

    Original publication · Scientific details

    Study explained simply
    What did the researchers want to find out?

    Are sugar-sweetened soft drinks and fructose associated with incident gout in men?

    How was the study done?

    Prospective cohort over 12 years (HPFS); validated FFQs.

    How many people, animals or samples were studied?

    46,393; 755 incident gout cases; Male health professionals without gout

    What was actually found?

    SSB 5-6/week RR 1.29 (1.00-1.68); 1/day 1.45 (1.02-2.08); >=2/day 1.85 (1.08-3.16); diet soft drinks not associated; fructose top fifth RR 2.02 (1.49-2.75); fruit juice and fructose-rich fruits also associated (P trend <0.05).

    How large was the observed effect?

    RR 1.85 (1.08-3.16)

    What do the results mean in everyday life?

    Sugary drinks and juices may raise gout risk.

    What are the study's limitations?

    Men health professionals only; Wide CI at highest intake; Observational design; residual confounding possible; Self-reported dietary intake

    What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?

    Supports C-SOD-05; relevant to C-SUG-06 (juice).

    Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?

    Moderate.

    What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?

    Effect in women; causation.

    Scientific details →

  • WHO sugar guideline

    World Health Organization. WHO news release 2015
    Guideline / position statementindependent cross-checkfull text checked★ key study

    WHO recommends keeping free sugars, including honey and juice sugars, below 10% of energy.

    Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: high · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim

    Original publication · Scientific details

    Study explained simply
    What did the researchers want to find out?

    Recommended limit for free sugars.

    How was the study done?

    International guideline (news release read in full).

    How many people, animals or samples were studied?

    Not applicable; Adults and children

    What was actually found?

    Free sugars <10% of total energy (strong recommendation); further reduction <5% (~25 g, 6 teaspoons) conditional. Free sugars include sugars added by manufacturer, cook or consumer and sugars naturally present in honey, syrups, fruit juices and fruit juice concentrates; not sugars in fresh fruit, vegetables or milk. A can of sugar-sweetened soda contains up to 40 g free sugars.

    How large was the observed effect?

    <10% energy (strong); <5% (conditional)

    What do the results mean in everyday life?

    Honey, juices and table sugar all count.

    What are the study's limitations?

    Conditional recommendation for <5%

    What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?

    Defines honey and juices as free sugars: contradicts C-SUG-01 and C-SUG-06; supports C-SUG-02.

    Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?

    Applies globally including EU and Egypt.

    What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?

    Not applicable.

    Scientific details →

Studies with mixed or unclear results (0)

No studies in this group.

Regional context

Germany / EU

Applies.

Egypt

Sugar-cane juice is a traditional drink in Egypt; no study of its specific health effects was reviewed.

What applies in my country?

General scientific assessment

Mostly false Inconsistent: the sugar-related evidence against soda applies equally to juices, honey and sweets that the system allows.

The following areas of food safety are relevant to this statement:

  • Pesticides and pesticide residues
  • Contaminants (heavy metals, PFAS, PCBs, dioxins, nitrate)
  • Additives and processing

Fruit and vegetables · Honey, sugar, sweets

Choose a country to see the checked information for it.

Limits: legal rules describe what is allowed, not what every single food contains. Measurement data come from samples and are meaningful only together with their method details.

Country of residence or purchase Compare with another country

References

  1. Consumption of sugar sweetened beverages, artificially sweetened beverages, and fruit juice and incidence of type 2 diabetes: systematic review, meta-analysis, and estimation of population attributable fraction.. Imamura F et al.. BMJ 2015 · PMID 26199070 · DOI 10.1136/bmj.h3576
  2. Soft drinks, fructose consumption, and the risk of gout in men: prospective cohort study.. Choi HK, Curhan G. BMJ 2008 · PMID 18244959 · DOI 10.1136/bmj.39449.819271.BE
  3. WHO calls on countries to reduce sugars intake among adults and children (Guideline: Sugars intake for adults and children, 2015) — news release. World Health Organization. WHO news release 2015

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