November 1, 2019 “The Best & Worst Candy to Eat!”
We had an absolute blast at Tadda’s Fitness on Halloween. The HalloLEAN Workout was truly one of a kind. While I was working the parents out, the kids, our Tadda Wadda’s, were having a Halloween party. Many kids and parents were surprised to see pizza, chips, cupcakes and lots of candy for the kids. Yes, I have a soft heart for holidays, although I believe in eating things in moderation on those days. One day of bad snacking is not going to make you unhealthy just like one day of eating right isn’t going to make you lose weight and come off medication. You must be consistent in both cases to see results, good or bad.
Halloween is a fun holiday, the young and old get to dress up as their favorite character or be someone they always wanted to be, for one day. They will not be judged for their choice, unless they enter a costume contest. Now that the festivities are over and the plastic pumpkin is filled to the brim with all of your favorite candies it’s time to unwrap the “Fun-Size” candies, but beware of what’s lurking inside. There are certain types of sweets that should be avoided and others that are not as harmful to the teeth.
When we think about eating candy we often worry about the calories and how much weight you might gain from overindulging. If you have health issues such as diabetics or high cholesterol, eating a plastic pumpkin full of Halloween candy over this next month could send many people to the pharmacy with increased dosages of medicine or worse to the hospital due to complications. Additionally, for those without preexisting health conditions, the over consumption of sugar lowers our immune system leading us vulnerable to infections, colds, bronchitis and the flu.
And finally, how many of you think of your smile when you put a piece of candy in your mouth? I am going to advise you on the best and worst candy to eat for your smile. A healthy smile, white teeth and healthy gums can take 10 years off your appearance, plus save you a fortune at your dentist office. Not only will a healthy smile make you look better but, you will feel better as well. Your dental health is linked to systemic problems like heart and kidney issues and low birth weight babies. Good oral hygiene is an extremely important factor in one’s overall health and should not be overlooked. Brushing and flossing are not always enough to keep your teeth healthy. What you eat or do not eat also determines how healthy your teeth are. Keep your smile in mind as I go through the best and worst Halloween candy.
Worst to Best
- Taffy and candies filled with caramel, coconut or nuts are the worst kinds of candy for your teeth because they stick to everything inside your mouth, including the grooves of your teeth. The longer a food sticks to your teeth, the longer bacteria can feed on it, which could produce cavity causing acid.
- Hard candy such as lollipops or jawbreakers, are the second worst candies to munch on. Although they do not stick to your mouth, they take a long time to dissolve. The longer a food stays in your mouth, the more acidic the environment becomes.
- Sour Candy because it has a higher acidic content which can break down tooth enamel.
Side note: Do y’all see why I drink alkaline water. The acidity from our food, candy and drinks are killing our teeth.
- While powdery candy such as Fun Dip (My favorite growing up) dissolves quickly in the mouth and doesn’t require chewing, they contain nothing but sugar and can lead to cavities by changing the mouths PH and giving bacteria straight sugar to eat.
- Chocolate, with no sticky filling, will generally not stick to your teeth, making it a much better option if you have the urge for a sweet snack. Dark chocolate with a least 70% cocoa, also has less sugar and lots of antioxidants and other great health benefits.
- Sugar-free gum may be the best treat because it leaves no sticky residue, which causes plaque and it is sweetened with xylitol, a natural sugar, preventing bacteria from forming plaque. My favorite gum to chew is Spry, I use their toothpaste and mouthwash as well.
- The best candy and I know you have been waiting for it, is natures own “Fruit”. Grab a piece of fruit in season, like mangos, grapes, pineapples, oranges and watch your taste buds light up. If you want even more intensity, freeze them and eat them straight from the freezer. They will be extra sweet, especially purple grapes. No Mess
