Halloween is a time of the year where we share sweet treats among friends, relations, neighbours and whoever loves to trick or treat us. For this reason, it is difficult not to be tempted by the desire for sweet treats.
Halloween means different things to everyone. For kids, it is the time to entertain friends in spooky costumes and move door to door asking neighbours for candy. But for adults, it’s a different ball game altogether. It means a Halloween bash with food and drinks with a large amount of sugar and fat.
One major Halloween treat is candy. It usually contains a high percentage of sugar, unhealthy fats, and very low fibre. And this combo can be very detrimental to your health.
Nobody is implying you should completely cut out these delicious treats, especially around Halloween. But you should know that not all candies lying on the grocery shelf are healthy for you.
So how then can you make smart choices and stay on the wellness path this Halloween? Here are some tips to keep you on the loop and help you know how Halloween treats tricks on your digestive system.
1. Milk Chocolate and Candies without Nuts
Chocolate has a high caffeine content and functions as diuretic which makes taking a large amount of chocolate leads to diarrhoea and other GI issues. So taking chocolate in the absence of nuts has zero nutritional value as they contain just sugar and fat with no fibre.
2. Sugar-free candy that contains sugar substitutes
Be watchful when eating lots of candy made with sugar substitute because Sorbitol and other sugar alcohols can cause gastrointestinal distress. Sugar alcohols function as a laxative, so overly indulging in these sweets can cause unpleasant problems the day after Halloween.
3. Overly processed candies
Most Halloween candies are nearly processed. Candy corn, lixorie, and others have hidden ingredients that can result in digestive problems.
For example, Licorice is often made with flour, making it harmful for people with Celiac Disease. Most Halloween candles have high fructose corn syrup, dyes, Tertiary Butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), modified soy lecithin and other additives which can result in GI issues.
Best Candies for Halloween consumption
We recommend these yummy treats that are less bad for you than most, and some even have health benefits:
1. Dark chocolate and nuts
If you’re going to eat chocolate this Halloween season, go for dark chocolates. The darker the better, and best if they contain nuts.
Nuts have some fibre which helps to ease things along your digestive system. Dark chocolates have other healthy benefits like lowering blood pressure, reducing inflammation, providing enzymes for gut bacteria, and more.
2. Gummies and gelatins
Gummies and gelatins have a high percentage of sugar and should definitely be consumed in moderation. More so, gelatin has multiple proven benefits for your gut health.
Gelatin is good for the skin and supports food for the stomach lining. In some cases, it improves the overall gut health.
Making your own gelatin treats at home can be a great way to reap those benefits while controlling your sugar intake.
3. Jelly Beans
Jelly Beans is another safe Halloween option. They have no nutritional value, but they’re not such bad Halloween candy. An individual jelly bean contains only four calories and less than 1 gram of sugar, so it’s safe to try a few flavours of this tasty treat.
Ingredients to Watchout for During Halloween
1. Artificial sweeteners
Lots of Halloween candies are made with artificial sweeteners. They don’t contain calories but still satiate the craving for something sweet. Although they are used mainly as a sugar substitute, artificial sweeteners cause more harm than good as they cause you to yearn for more.
They also are a major cause of type 2 diabetes.
2. High-fructose corn syrup
They are usually cheaper and sweeter than regular sugar, and popular among food manufacturers. However, they are harmful as they contain contaminants and chemical toxins which are poisonous to the digestive system..
3. MSG
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is given many different names, making it harder to avoid. They are sometimes written as textured protein, hydrolysed pea protein, yeast extract, caseinate and natural flavouring. Though studies have shown that MSG is generally safe for consumption, some people may have a negative reaction to it. watch out if you think you are sensitive to MSG, and avoid meals it contains.
4. Trans Fats
Artificial trans fats pose health hazards. They are also called partially hydrogenated fats and are used to prolong the shelf life of processed foods by chemically altering vegetable oils so they remain solid at room temperature.
Artificial trans fat boosts bad cholesterol and is difficult for the body to process. It has been linked to cause cellular deterioration, heart disease, nutritional deficiency and diabetes.
Healthy Ways to Eat Halloween Candy
Kids get a little more candy during Halloween than usual. Here are some of the kids the Ontario Dental Association has to help you enjoy Halloween and make it more healthy and less scary to your digestive system.
- Eat candies in moderation.
- Keep candy in a sealed container and establish times when your child can have a treat.
- Give your child sweets just after having a meal, as the amount of saliva produced at this time will help protect your child’s teeth.
- Allow your kids nruch twice daily and flox. In the absence of a toothbrush while away from home, give them sugarless gum to help get their saliva flowing.
- Alternate candy with some healthy snacks, such as vegetables, fruits, yogurts and cheeses, with Halloween treats.
- Check your child for potential allergens.
Bottom Line
In a general view, no candy is healthy to be consumed, but we can’t totally deprive ourselves from enjoying these treats. Since excessive consumption is harmful to our health it is better to consume it in care.
Also, taking candies alongside healthy and high fiber meals will never be wrong as you engage in your Halloween entertainment.