Perrysburg Pulse Magazine Perrysburg Pulse October | Page 29

PULLING THE HALLOWEEN MASK OFF OF SUGAR W ith Halloween so close to knocking on our front doors (pun intended), we often reminisce about trick- or-treating as children. Of course, dressing up was fun, but do you know what was even better? Pouring that giant sack of candy onto the kitchen table as we grinned from ear to ear. That was and still is every kid’s dream on Halloween night. But, as we become adults, why does a pile of sugar-laden sweets on the kitchen table turn into a nightmare? It’s because each Halloween brings a deluge of fearmongering study results that reveal more about sugar’s association with weight gain, diabetes, heart issues, and other health conditions [see links at the end of this article]. Each year, candy feels more like a trick than a treat. We indulge. Feel guilty. Repeat. Then, blame the inevitable weight gain on Halloween. What many of us don’t realize is that sugar is naturally present or added to almost every food that we consume, not just candy or so-called junk foods. Sugar is present in bread, pasta, fruits, vegetables, and most of the items in our grocery stores labeled “natural,” “clean,” and “organic.” Basically, everything we eat contains sugar. Does this mean that we’re just completely doomed? Fear not, my friends! Sugar is commonly blamed for “empty calories,” meaning sugary foods provide the body with very little satiety and nutritional value. However, it is quantity, not quality, that poses the real threat to health. Let’s take a look at a Halloween favorite: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. One package has 21.2 grams of sugar in it. Compare that to a medium-sized apple, which has roughly 20 grams of sugar. Though both the package of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and the medium-sized apple contain comparable amounts of sugar, we consider the former “bad” and the latter “good.” This is because Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are ridiculously delicious and easy to overeat. We could all eat multiple packages of them. At 220 calories each, this adds up very quickly. An apple, on the other hand, offers filling fiber and various nutrients that keep you from returning to the fruit bowl—or the candy bowl, for that matter—for several hours. Brittany Dingler Fit Life Parenting is a health and wellness company with the mission to teach moms and dads the truth about health and how easy it actually is to create a healthy lifestyle that you’ll enjoy for the rest of your life! [email protected] In conclusion, the dosage makes the poison. Overconsumption of anything— including water, the body’s most essential need—can be toxic. The takeaway from this article should be that sugar is not the enemy. It can be included within a healthy lifestyle. Do not be fearful (pun intended again) when your child reaches for their favorite candy bar after Halloween night. As long as they’re not overconsuming sugar-filled foods, and most of their daily food intake carries ample amounts of protein and fiber, there’s nothing to worry about. The real culprit is an excess of calories consumed. Control that for yourself and your children, and your family is on the path to a healthy relationship with food. This Halloween, remind yourself and your children that sweets are nothing to be afraid of when eaten responsibly. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26376619 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1629462 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3969361 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11477496 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11093293