What makes a healthy candy Healthy?
So-called healthy candy brands, such as skinny dipped, Hu kitchen, From Justinand Unrealthey’ve become popular with celebrities, influencers, and everyday people looking to make “smarter” food choices.
“Healthy candy brands, such as SmartSweetsThey typically have no added sugar, are colored with natural plant extracts, and have extra added fiber,” says the women’s health expert and registered dietitian. Ruth Cory, MS, RDN. “These qualities make them an ideal choice for those conscious of calories, blood sugar and artificial ingredients.”
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registered dietitian jennifer maneng, MS, RD, CDN, from Chelsea Nutrition, echoes this idea, pointing out that by using fiber and added sugar alternatives, healthy candy brands are recognized for being lower in carbohydrates, which reduces sugar spikes in the body. “But that doesn’t necessarily make the product healthy,” she says. Some healthy sweets (not those mentioned above) should be avoided.
The Downfalls of Some Healthy Candy Brands
Many healthy candy brands don’t taste the same as the original candy they’re imitating. While some consumers find healthy candy tasty, not everyone sees it as a true alternative to their favorite candy. As such, eating it is often not as satisfying as enjoying a portion-controlled bite of the real thing. And because of that, some people tend to overeat healthy sweets (and other healthy alternatives, like low-calorie ice cream) in an attempt to feel full.
The problem is that doing so can lead to some pretty nasty GI issues. “Sugar alcohols, which are prominent in some healthier alternatives, have less of an impact on blood sugar than refined sugars and are generally safe, but when consumed frequently or in large quantities, they can cause gas. , swelling and even cramps”, Maeng. it says.
What to look for in healthy sweets
One way to avoid the symptoms mentioned above is to control the amount of healthy sweets you eat; another is to consider the ingredients of your bites.
“Some may want to avoid sugar alcohols, which can cause gas, bloating, and diarrhea, for the sake of their digestion,” says Ruth. “Artificial coloring and flavoring agents are also not ideal ingredients when they are loaded into something that we are ingesting and absorbing.”
Additionally, Maeng recommends looking for healthy sweets sweetened with fruits and vegetables, and those that have less real sugar.
The debate over sweet ‘cravings’
No matter what type of candy you’re eating, healthy or not, Ruth says it’s totally safe to incorporate into your daily diet. “The key is to keep the portion size moderate and the rest of the day balanced, in terms of carbohydrate and sugar intake,” she says.
With that in mind, in both Ruth’s and Maeng’s opinion, when it comes to sweets, the real thing in small amounts is better than a healthy alternative. “I like to recommend eating what you really want to eat in moderation,” says Maeng. “You will be much more satisfied eating exactly what you are looking for than trying to find alternatives that are not as satisfying, because you will end up looking for more food or another food option to satisfy your cravings.”
While it’s perfectly fine to eat sweets every day in moderation, if you have daily cravings, you might be interested to know why. “Instead of looking for healthier sweets to eat every day, it’s important to think about why you crave sweets every day,” says Maeng. “A review published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine claimed that refined sugar has a similar effect on the brain as illegal drugs like cocaine. Which means that if you are eating a lot of sweets, you should be treated with caution in trying to reduce your intake.”
Diet culture and new and frequent healthy alternatives can make you feel like you can’t eat sweets or other delicious foods. Can.
“Sugar-free, ‘healthy,’ or regular — anyone can add a little sweet here and there and not completely derail their health,” says Ruth. “Remember, it’s what you do most of the time that makes the biggest difference to your health.”
Do you want more proof? “Restricting access to palatable foods, whether by self-imposition or parental control, may have potentially negative consequences” according to a 2015 article published in the international review journal of Advances in Nutrition. So do yourself a favor and eat the candy.
Here’s how to make Peanut Butter Chocolate Bonbons:
