“Trick or treat!”
For many of us, Halloween is a hall pass on our healthy eating habits.
Not to be a buzzkill, but those little candies add up to big problems for our insides.
Pretty much every organ is affected by a rush of sugar, and they don’t appreciate it.
Here are just a few effects of that late night Reese’s binge.
We are just not equipped to handle artificial foods.
Studies have shown that thenatural sugars in fruit and milkdo not have the same negative effects as candy.
When we eat natural sugars, such as an apple, the food provides the needed fiber and vitamins.
The fiber in fruit keeps our blood sugar stable.
Yes, those fat-free fruity candies cause your body to create more fat!
Eating an excessive amount of added sugar causes ourtriglyceride levels to rise.
Triglycerides are fats that travel through the bloodstream and heart.
A candy binge even changes our blood cells and causes our bodies to produce too many white blood cells.
This thenleads totissue damage and slow repair.
Talk about a scary Halloween!
If you’re wondering if the occasional candy binge is really that bad, it kind of is.
In this study, the risk of heart disease went up as the percentage of dietary sugar went up.
This trend happened regardless of the participant’s age, gender, ethnicity, activity level, or weight.
Basically, sugar is dangerous, even if the rest of your diet and weight is healthy.
Blood sugar surge
When candy hits our systems, our bodies have to startpumping out the insulin.
This response keeps our blood sugar in a normal, healthy range.
Over time this high blood sugar does not always lead to diabetes, but it is dangerous.
It also lowers our HDL, which is known as the “good cholesterol.”
Excessive sugar consumption has been linked toimpaired memory and overall brain health.
Brittle bones
Eating a whole bowl of candy can have an acidic effect in the blood.
Our blood has a healthy pH and will adjust to stay in that healthy range.
If sugar lowers that level too much, making it acidic, it has to come back up.
To compensate, theblood needs minerals to balance our pHand bring it back to that healthy range.
Our cells pull calcium from our bones and teeth so that protect the blood.
Not surprisingly, this leads to weakening in our bones and decay in our teeth.
A2009 studylinked sugar consumption (like fistfuls of candy) with the aging of our cells.
Weight gain
Does one candy binge cause obesity?
Sugar messes with our bodies' hunger levels.
Eating and drinking added sugars has been linked toleptin-resistance.
Leptin is the important hormone that signals to our brains that we’re full and should stop eating.
When that hormone can’t work like it’s supposed to, we can’t help but overeat.
you could still enjoy Halloween and all the glorious candy it brings.
When it comes to enjoying Halloween treats, moderation is the name of the game.
Even theAcademy of Nutrition and Dieteticsstates that all foods can fit into a healthy diet when eaten in moderation.
Know which candies are worth the splurge and which to pass on.
If you’re a chocolate fiend, don’t mindlessly snack on Swedish Fish while waiting for trick-or-treaters.
Plan ahead and only indulge in the treats you truly love and will thoroughly enjoy.
Healthier candy
Of course.
no Halloween candy can be considered healthy, butsome are definitely better than others.
Whether you crave chocolate or fruity flavors, we have you covered.
When it comes to chocolate, 3 Musketeers bars are a great way to go.
They’re lighter than the chocolate bars filled with nuts or caramel.
One fun-sized bar contains only 60 calories and two grams of fat.
Need something a little crunchier?
One small pack of peanut M&Ms has 90 calories and five grams of fat.
Plus, the peanuts contain protein, so they will help keep you full.
Not a chocolate fan?
Reach for Jolly Ranchers.
Three Jolly Rancher candies contain 70 calories and no fat.
Because they take longer to eat, they will slow you down and may prevent a full-on candy binge.
Other treats
Want to create some healthy Halloween treats?
