Halloween is without question the biggest event of the year for the sugar industry. They sell more treats during this season than nearly all others combined. The sugar industry is a well-oiled machine that has already hooked the majority of the U.S. population. According to the American Heart Association, the average American eats 22 teaspoons of sugar a day! Teens consume an average of 34 teaspoons a day! And most of it comes from soda pop and candy.
Those excess sugars, carbs and calories can lead to: obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes and premature aging. Sugar can also affect your immune system, and contributes to allergies, digestive disorders and even depression. Many of our patients are doing great on the HCG weight loss program, and if you are interested in a learning more about our structured weight loss program, check out our website or call and make an appointment.
So what to do this Halloween? Do you have the will power to keep your hands out the candy meant for the trick-or-treaters? Here are some tips to help you make it through Halloween sugar-free.
- Don’t participate. Be a party pooper and go out for the evening, or turn out the lights.
- Give out healthy treats like packages of nuts, or non-food treats. We used to have a neighbor who would give out non-food treats like pencils, pens and even dimes.
- If you’re going to give out candy, don’t buy it until Halloween afternoon. No use having it hang around the house.
- Pick trick-or-treat candy you don’t like or are allergic to.
- At the end of the evening, take the candy somewhere you won’t have access to it – a part of your workplace where you don’t often go, or give it as a gift to friends, family, or coworkers you know who will appreciate it.
