Is that something sweet a trick or a treat?
Halloween is just a few days away, and children are about to be running door to door in search of candies and chocolates.
But one scientist is warning parents about the dangers of allowing their kids to indulge in certain treats on the spooky, candy-driven holiday.
Dan Baumgardt, a senior lecturer at the School of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Bristol, wrote in The Conversation that he won’t be allowing his children to partake in sweet treats this Halloween.
“Not just because of my general curmudgeonliness, but have you seen what all that sugar does to you?” he wrote.
Licorice
Licorice is made from the root of the Glycyrrhiza glabra plant, mixing the extract with sugar, gelatin or starch to produce the beloved chewy candy.
But the active ingredient, glycyrrhizin, can mess with hormones.
Baumgardt noted that in small quantities, licorice can help alleviate indigestion and provide some anti-inflammatory properties — but it can also lead to high blood pressure and low potassium levels.
The expert said that glycyrrhizin mimics the effects of adrenal hormones like cortisol and aldosterone, which control blood pressure as well as fluid and electrolyte balance. If consumed in large amounts, this can prompt fluid retention, muscle breakdown — or even heart, liver or kidney failure.
He advised being diligent when consuming the candy.
Sherberts and super sours
Snacks like Fun Dip — a pack of powder with a lollipop-like stick for dipping — sure seem fun, but it’s really just a bag of sugar and citric acid.
Citric acid is also the ingredient that gives the super-sour candies that face-scrunching effect. Baumgardt pointed out that several studies have found that these treats are intensely acidic and can significantly alter the acidity of saliva, ultimately stripping enamel from the teeth.
He also noted that acidic irritation to the stomach lining can cause inflammation and ulceration, and there have been media reports of people getting mouth ulcers from sour sweets.
Though beyond the effects on the mouth by sour candies, the consequences are less clear.
Sugar (duh!)
Sugar can do a lot more damage than giving your children cavities and an explosion of hyperactive energy, Baumgardt explained. There are also cases of gut inflammation, kidney damage and heart disease.
“Sugar starts its damage the moment it hits your mouth,” he claimed.
Once in your mouth, it feeds on the colonies of bacteria living there, which multiply and release acids that destroy the tooth enamel. Developing bacterial plaque can also lead to gum irritation, also known as gingivitis, which can cause persistent bad breath.
After the gut absorbs the sugar, it spikes blood glucose levels, which causes short-term bursts of hyperactivity and anxiety, followed by a crash of fatigue and irritability.
Consuming large amounts of sugar can also lead to weight gain and insulin resistance — indicators of Type 2 diabetes. High-sugar diets can also contribute to heart and liver disease, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
