The Truth About Candy

CandyFavorites offers all of your favorite bulk candies!

 

Few products bring so much happiness and yet are surrounded by as much misconception as candy.

 

Candy is a special treat that, when used in moderation, can be enjoyed daily, provided you aren’t eating food covered in grease for every meal. While maintaining a well-balanced diet and a somewhat healthy lifestyle, we should all be able to have a couple of gummy bears… as a treat.

 

Below we came up with a list of the most familiar candy myths that are always in the back of our minds when we take down a whole box of Skittles. Each myth is followed by the myth-buster, which hopefully is helpful. Thanks to the National Confectioners Association for much of the information shown.

 

MYTH: MOST CANDIES ARE HIGHLY CALORIC

TRUTH:  One butterscotch disc has a mere 20 calories. Eight gumdrops or jelly beans have 115 calories. Enjoying candies like these every once in a while won't tip the scale, and in other great news, most candies have little if any fat or cholesterol, which makes this myth busted!


MYTH: CANDY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TOOTH DECAY

TRUTH: This is the biggie, the one your mother always told you. The truth is, any food containing carbohydrates, like starches and sugars, can contribute to tooth decay. Good dental hygiene (brush after every meal or snack) is the best way to prevent cavities. This is the one everyone has heard from mom growing up, and it's almost like she imprinted this myth into our brains. I find myself eating some Sour Patch Kids in the movie theater and am worried about waking up with a cavity the next day. The truth is, any food containing carbohydrates, like starches and sugars, can contribute to your teeth falling apart. The best way to keep those pearly whites in good condition is to brush regularly and everyone's favorite activity, flossing!


MYTH: CANDY CAUSES HYPERACTIVITY IN KIDS

TRUTH:  I can say from first-hand experience, I have been babysitting, and the moms will always let me know how much if any, candy the kids are allowed to have. Parents don't want to come home from a long stressful day and have little Jimmy swinging from the rafters. But here's the kicker: Sugar does not cause hyperactivity in children. Studies conducted at Vanderbilt University and the University of Iowa College of Medicine found no evidence that sugar adversely affects children's behavior. Kids are just young and have loads of energy. So, of course, as with anything (except veggies), moderation is key.


MYTH: THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS HEALTHY CANDY

TRUTH: Many treats, like lollipops, candy canes, and gummies, have no cholesterol or fat, making them a healthier treat than many people may realize. Gumdrops, most licorice products, and many hard candy varieties are fat-free and have little to no cholesterol; plus, they are low-calorie. For example, a cup of candy corn contains fewer calories than the same amount of raisins.


MYTH: CHOCOLATE CONSUMPTION LEADS TO ACNE

TRUTH:  Yeah, we all know that no one enjoys waking up to a pimple on their forehead, especially the day of an important event, but that doesn't mean chocolate is to blame! A bad diet can result in acne, but trials performed at the U.S. Naval Academy and the University of Pennsylvania have shown that eating chocolate in moderation doesn't contribute to your complexion. A good skin-care routine and a regular diet are essential.


MYTH: CANDY CONTRIBUTES MUCH OF THE FAT & SUGAR IN THE STANDARD AMERICAN DIET

TRUTH:  People in this country like to eat; there is no lie there. But, much of the fat and sugar in the American diet comes from other sources than candy when looking at the big picture. Less than ten percent of the sugar and two percent of the American's diet fat is provided by candy. Most of the fat comes from the meat we eat, and most of the sugar comes from pop (it's pop, not soda; don't argue with me on this one). So maybe don't worry so much about having a couple of Airheads, but do watch the fat content on that New York Strip Steak you were planning on having for dinner...


MYTH: EATING TOO MUCH CHOCOLATE MAKES PEOPLE LETHARGIC

TRUTH: While chocolate has been shown not to cause hyperactivity in children, it has historically been championed as an energy source. To put this into perspective, a single chocolate chip provides sufficient food energy for an adult to walk 150 feet, and 35 chocolate chips are enough to go a mile. Some say that Napoleon carried chocolate - apparently, he liked to get his sweet fix daily with him on military campaigns, as a luxury item and an easy source of energy. While chocolate has been shown not to cause crazy hyper children, it has historically been seen as a great energy source.

 

MYTH: CHOCOLATE IS NOT ONE OF THE FOUR FOOD GROUPS

TRUTH: Chocolate comes from cacao beans, which are classified as a vegetable. The darker the chocolate, the higher the cocoa content and the more antioxidants and flavonoids it has, both of which have several health benefits.


MYTH: FOODS HIGH IN SATURATED FATS CONTRIBUTE TO HIGHER CHOLESTEROL LEVELS

TRUTH: Not all types of saturated fats raise cholesterol. Stearic acid, the main saturated fatty acid in chocolate, has a neutral effect on blood cholesterol levels. Additionally, the fat in chocolate, cocoa butter, does not raise cholesterol levels even though it is saturated because it is plant-derived and healthier than saturated fats found in animal products.


MYTH: PEOPLE CAN BECOME ADDICTED TO CHOCOLATE

TRUTH:  This might be an excuse someone you know uses to make-up for the fact that they can't keep their hands out of the bag of Hershey Kisses. Chocolate is no more addictive than any other favorite food. Craving sweets can come on strong, but can also be satisfied by naturally sweet food like fruits. It is nice to have a piece of chocolate after a big savory meal, though.


MYTH: MANY PEOPLE ARE ALLERGIC TO CHOCOLATE.

TRUTH: A recent study debunked this myth, showing that a mere one out of 500 individuals who thought they were allergic to chocolate actually tested positive for the allergy.


MYTH: CHOCOLATE CAN BE DEADLY

TRUTH: This one is true, but only if you are a canine. Blame theobromine, which stimulates the cardiac muscle and the central nervous system and causes toxicity in dogs, and even then, only in large quantities. In humans, chocolate poses no threat. In fact, dark chocolate actually has several proven health benefits.


MYTH: AN OUNCE OF MILK CHOCOLATE CONTAINS AS MUCH CAFFEINE AS ONE SERVING OF COFFEE

TRUTH: A one-ounce piece of milk chocolate contains approximately the same amount of caffeine as a cup of decaffeinated coffee, which is about 4 mg. By comparison, a regular cup of coffee has anywhere between 80 and 140 mg. 

See CandyFavorites.com Reviews at Bizrate.com