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America's annual candy-fest, also known as "Halloween," brings good memories and a big bag of treats. Although 6 year-olds can usually devour their stash in a matter of hours with only their dental health as a concern, teenagers and adults have more to worry about. As the number of eaten Snickers candy bars increases, so does the blood sugar level and thus risk of lasting pancreatic damage.
America's annual candy-fest, also known as "Halloween," brings good memories and a big bag of treats. Although 6 year-olds can usually devour their stash in a matter of hours with only their dental health as a concern, teenagers and adults have more to worry about. As the number of eaten Snickers candy bars increases, so does the blood sugar level and thus risk of lasting pancreatic damage.
A reported $12.2 billion dollars will be spent on Halloween candy in America in 2023 alone (National Retail Federation). That is $12.2 billion going into the mouths of 74 million American children (Children's Defense Fund).
Nutritional Content
Nutritional Content
The images on the right show 100 calories worth of some of the most popular candies. Just 100 calories equates to 2-5 teaspoons or 21 grams of sugar. This is almost the entire daily recommendation of added sugar per person.
Though, this recommendation is still too high; more than 10 grams of added sugar a day can lead to lifelong consequences, detailed below.
Additionally, fat content and lack of nutrition means that if your caloric intake remains stable, you are missing crucial vitamins and minerals you could've gained from other foods.
Effects
Effects
Though Halloween is only one night, most have leftover candy for two to three months, mindlessly snacking on a Kit Kat here and there. Besides the accumulative caloric content of these additional munches, sugar is most concerning. Nearly 40% of American adults have prediabetes; another 12% have diabetes. The most daunting value of these statistics is the 80% of prediabetics who don't know they're prediabetic (CDC). In children aged 12-19, almost 30% are prediabetic (American Diabetes Association). These numbers are surely connected to the frequent holiday-related sugar indulgences as sugar intake is the direct cause of Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2).
When one eats too much sugar, it rapidly defuses into the blood stream because it is already in its purest form: glucose. It takes a mere 30 minutes for sugar to reach the blood after consumption. For more sensitive individuals, namely children, this might cause a "hyper" sensation as their energy quite literally increased. This is followed by a sudden crash of no-energy and hangriness.
For less sensitive individuals, they may not even realize what is happening on the cellular level. When sugar enters the blood stream, it triggers the release of the pancreatic hormone insulin. Insulin is responsible for transporting glucose to the cells throughout your body for ATP, energy, production. With more sugar in the blood, more insulin is required to relocate it. But, chronically, the pancreas will get tired and may become incapable at creating enough insulin to get the glucose out of your blood. This is Diabetes Mellitus and is seldom reversible.
Even if you are in the more sensitive group, this hangriness will lead you to get hungry again. The brain runs on glucose and the body always wants to store more energy in case of a scenario in which access to food is greatly limited. If you give the body these easily-diffused sugars, it will want more and thus increase quantities of the hormone Ghrelin which makes you feel hungry. This causes you to overeat and in the long run will lead to obesity, diabetes, and heart problems as well as decreased motivation, brain "cloudiness," and ineffective memory. Beyond the brain, one's athletics and workouts may get worse as energy levels decrease faster and one gets tired faster.
Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic disease that often leads to heart disease, kidney disease, nerve damage, mental health complications, and more (CDC).
Though, you only live once. As long as Halloween doesn't turn into an annual three-month-long candy indulging extravangza and you stay active and eat healthy whenever you can, you should be fine (barring any unrelated health issues).
Though, you only live once. As long as Halloween doesn't turn into an annual three-month-long candy indulging extravangza and you stay active and eat healthy whenever you can, you should be fine (barring any unrelated health issues).
Happy Halloween from the PEA family!
Happy Halloween from the PEA family!
Written By: Siena
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