For individuals with diabetes or who are watching their sugar intake, is sugar-free candy a healthy choice?
Contents
Sugar-free candies can be an option for individuals with diabetes and those watching their sugar intake. Different types of sweeteners are used in sugar-free candies, with pros and cons and possible side effects.
Sugar-free candies use artificial sweeteners or sugar substitutes to generate a sweet taste. Most of these sweeteners have fewer calories and carbohydrates than sugar, but not all are calorie or carb-free. Some sugar substitutes on labels include:
Pros over candies sweetened with sugar.
The cons can include:
Choosing which types are best depends on personal taste and health goals.
Dr. Jimenez Functional Medicine Team. Healthy eating does not have to be hard. Using an integrated approach, we aim to restore health and function to the body through Nutrition and Wellness, Functional Medicine, Acupuncture, Electro-Acupuncture, and Sports Medicine protocols. If the patient needs other treatment, they will be referred to a clinic or physician best suited for them, as Dr. Jimenez has teamed up with the top surgeons, clinical specialists, medical researchers, nutritionists, and health coaches to provide the most effective clinical treatments. We focus on what works for you and strive to better the body through researched methods and total wellness programs.
U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2020). Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. 9th Edition. Available at DietaryGuidelines.gov. Retrieved from www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans_2020-2025.pdf
American Heart Association. (2020). Federal dietary guidelines emphasize healthy eating but fall short on added sugars. newsroom.heart.org/news/federal-dietary-guidelines-emphasize-healthy-eating-habits-but-fall-short-on-added-sugars
University of California, San Francisco, Diabetes Teaching Center: Diabetes Education Online. (2024). Counting sugar alcohols. dtc.ucsf.edu/living-with-diabetes/diet-and-nutrition/understanding-carbohydrates/counting-carbohydrates/learning-to-read-labels/counting-sugar-alcohols/
Mäkinen K. K. (2016). Gastrointestinal Disturbances Associated with the Consumption of Sugar Alcohols with Special Consideration of Xylitol: Scientific Review and Instructions for Dentists and Other Health-Care Professionals. International journal of dentistry, 2016, 5967907. doi.org/10.1155/2016/5967907
Evert, A. B., Dennison, M., Gardner, C. D., Garvey, W. T., Lau, K. H. K., MacLeod, J., Mitri, J., Pereira, R. F., Rawlings, K., Robinson, S., Saslow, L., Uelmen, S., Urbanski, P. B., & Yancy, W. S., Jr (2019). Nutrition Therapy for Adults With Diabetes or Prediabetes: A Consensus Report. Diabetes care, 42(5), 731–754. doi.org/10.2337/dci19-0014
Azad, M. B., Abou-Setta, A. M., Chauhan, B. F., Rabbani, R., Lys, J., Copstein, L., Mann, A., Jeyaraman, M. M., Reid, A. E., Fiander, M., MacKay, D. S., McGavock, J., Wicklow, B., & Zarychanski, R. (2017). Nonnutritive sweeteners and cardiometabolic health: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and prospective cohort studies. CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l’Association medicale canadienne, 189(28), E929–E939. doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.161390
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The information herein on "The Pros and Cons of Sugar-Free Candy" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.
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Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
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Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
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