“The Tongue is Astonished” Cardiologist Takes a Bite of Dujonku and Issues a ‘Chilling’ Warning

As the trend of Dubai chewy cookies (Dujonku) sweeps the nation, a chilling warning has been issued. A cardiologist expressed concern about the Dujonku craze, stating, “What do we swallow until the pleasure at the tip of the tongue reaches the stomach?”

Dujonku is a dessert made by filling thin Middle Eastern noodles called kataifi with pistachio spread, wrapping it in a mixture of marshmallows and cocoa powder to create a chewy rice cake-like treat. Recently, stores have been running out of Dujonku, leading to the emergence of maps that show store locations and stock statuses. A queue service has also been established.

In response, Dr. Lim Tae-hyung, a cardiologist at Busan Haedong Hospital, recently posted a ‘one-person clinical result report’ on his social media after eating a Dujonku gifted by a pharmaceutical company employee. He stated, “The coexistence of crispiness and chewiness is undoubtedly someone’s genius invention,” but also mentioned, “The sweetness rushes straight to the brain, covering the tongue and hitting the palate.”

He remarked, “The expression ‘sweet’ is insufficient,” adding, “It was so violently sweet that I felt my tongue, which has been telling patients to ‘reduce sweets’ for 30 years, was astonished.”

Dr. Lim stated, “I cannot deny the deliciousness, but this taste is the result of sugar and fat targeting the brain's reward circuit,” and added, “Evolutionarily, we are designed to be unable to resist this combination, so the trend was inevitable.”

He noted, “However, receiving three when I should have divided one (into several pieces) was an over-prescription by the pharmaceutical company,” and advised, “I will eat the other two very slowly, giving my blood vessels time to process.”

Dujonku Blocks Leptin Signals Inducing Overeating

As Dr. Lim explained, Dujonku is a high-calorie dessert concentrated with simple sugars and saturated fats. Depending on the size, it is known to contain about 400-600 Kcal. The combination of sugar and fat stimulates the brain's reward center more strongly than consuming a single nutrient. It can also block the signals of leptin, a hormone that sends fullness signals, inducing overeating.

It also has direct negative effects on blood vessels. Sugar and marshmallows are quickly absorbed, causing a rapid spike in glucose levels after consumption. At the same time, due to the large amounts of saturated fat and oil, the blood becomes sticky, slowing down circulation. This condition can cause inflammation in the blood vessel walls, leading to narrowing or hardening of the vessels. Some components of Dujonku linger in the narrow gaps of teeth or gum borders, causing inflammation and tartar buildup.

How to Eat Dujonku Healthily?

If health is a concern, the best option is to avoid it as much as possible, but if you want to enjoy the taste, it is necessary to control the portion. It is wise to divide one cookie into four or more pieces and eat small amounts. This can reduce blood sugar spikes and prevent excessive calorie intake. It is also important to eat it during the day when activity levels are higher, rather than late at night, to encourage calorie consumption. It is better to consume it with water, Americano, or unsweetened tea rather than drinks containing liquid fructose or milk.