Tips to Take the ‘Scary’ Out of Halloween’s Sugar Rush

09 Oct Tips to Take the ‘Scary’ Out of Halloween’s Sugar Rush

Halloween is the first holiday in the crazy end-of-the-year run of parties and holidays and treats and having every excuse in the book to be unhealthy. While other people are “scared” by the skeletons, goblins, ghosts, and pranks, I’m more scared by what traditional Halloween snack and foods are doing inside your body. Especially if you take a closer look at all the sugar involved.

Here’s some scary food facts – and healthy tips that will help you take the scary out of Halloween’s sugar rush!

SCARY FACT:

Based on a serving size of just 19 small pieces… candy corn contains 28 grams of sugar. This is just one of all the popular, sugar-filled candies consumed during this holiday. All that sugar can have a real impact on your health though. Consuming sugar has been linked to cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, depression, and of course… obesity.

Candy corn was the candy of choice in the most number of states in a recent poll by Influenster done to find the favorite Halloween candies by state. When I heard about this poll, I was more curious about how much sugar each state was eating in its favorite candy! Find out how much sugar is in each states’ favorite candy in this blog.

HEALTHY TIP:

We need sugar, TRUE. But, we can easily get all we require from fruit and vegetables. That’s more than enough to satisfy our requirement for glucose as a source of energy. Having a bowl full of nuts and dried fruit or a bowl full of fresh organic berries sitting on the kitchen table makes for a much more nutritious snack without the sugar rush!

SCARY FACT:

There’s candy everywhere you turn during Halloween! But when we think about sugar in our diet, candy or soft drinks (which we usually think of first) aren’t the only offenders. 80% of the 600,000+ food products in America have sugar added to them. Added sugar is everywhere!

HEALTHY TIP:

Avoid processed foods, read your labels, and don’t buy packaged foods with added sugars or artificial sweeteners. Each amount of added sugar adds up to create a huge negative impact on your health and your body.  Need a chocolate fix? My favorite snack is 100% real cacao chocolate wafers. There’s no added sugar and the cacao has medicinal benefits for your body.  I never leave home without them!

SCARY FACT:

Sugar is scary, but artificial food coloring will also be on the ingredient list of almost all of the Halloween candy favorites such as candy corn, Butterfingers, M&Ms, Starburst, Twizzlers, etc. Kids are especially sensitive to this toxic additive. Look out for any and all “artificial food coloring” as it has been linked to behavioral problems in kids like ADHD, asthma, and even cancer when consumed in large quantities.

HEALTHY TIP:

Read your labels! From there, look for organic products colored with real ingredients such as beets (for red) turmeric (for yellow) carrots (for orange) and spinach (for green).

SCARY FACT:

It is estimated that Americans will spend over $2.5 billion on Halloween candy alone this year.

HEALTHY TIP:

If you are participating in the neighborhood tradition of Trick or Treating this year, pass out other fun items such as glowsticks, mini bags of (organic) popcorn, or even fun spooky accessories … think vampire teeth, plastic spider rings, or spooky stickers.

SCARY FACT:

Do you know what’s in your Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte? More than 50 grams of sugar in a ‘grande’ size 16 oz. cup. That’s the total amount the World Health Organization says you should eat in A WHOLE DAY! (And even that is way too much). You also are getting natural flavors, potassium sorbate, mono and diglycerides, carrageenan, potassium sorbate, citric acid, and sulfating agents. It’s a huge hit of sugar and fake ingredients your body can’t recognize.

HEALTHY TIP:

I know it’s a holiday favorite, so try making your own instead! The internet is full of ways to make your own healthy version of this holiday treat! Look for dairy-free, sugar-free options. Meeting a friend or working at a coffee shop? Instead order tea (organic if possible). A great fall option is Chai tea, but make sure it’s from a tea bag that is seeped and not made from a sugary syrup.

When you’re aware of all the tricky ways you’ll be eating sugar that your body doesn’t need, you can make healthy choices that will keep your health on track, your energy high, and your weight under control this entire holiday season! Get more health tips, recipes, and information to live your SuperLife – your best life possible – here at www.superlife.com.