The scariest part of Halloween for a dieter is the excess sugar and calories. If you have been following the crunchy trends on social media… you may be afraid of the food dyes and other added ingredients as well.
The truth is – you don’t have to be scared of these things at all!
Fear doesn’t produce positive change. But being rightfully informed does.
So let’s unpack this idea that “candy is toxic and poisoning us!” and get the facts straight so you can have a healthy relationship with food and make the best decisions for YOUR health.
Why do people say candy (or any food) is toxic?
On social media, hooks like “This food is TOXIC” or “The food industry is POISONING you” gets a lot of attention. Because it’s dramatic and extreme.
Chronic health conditions are extremely prevalent. When someone suggests an extreme theory that puts the blame on a single idea, ingredient, organization, etc – it can be really easy to hop on the bandwagon.
We want a clear cause and solution:
“All you have to do is cut out sugar to be healthy.”
“The food industries want us to stay sick and that is why chronic disease is so prevalent.”
“It’s the ingredients in our food that are keeping us sick”
The reality is – everything is so complex. Nutrition is an important part of our health, but not the only part. Socioeconomic status plays a bigger role. There are people living in food deserts who do not have access to fruits and vegetables. Processed foods are what they can rely on because they are shelf stable and reasonably priced. Removing certain ingredients is not going to be life changing for their health.
What will? Increasing access to fruits and vegetables. Working to end poverty will make it so healthy foods are affordable and so parents don’t have to work three jobs just to put a roof over their families head and be so stressed that their health takes a toll. Improving the safety of certain neighborhoods will make it easier for kids and adults to get outside and be more active. Working to reduce chronic stress and mental health conditions.
But who would watch an instagram reel with that long of a title…
Improving our food system is a critical part of this process to improve our health. Removing certain ingredients (like food dyes) is likely a good direction to move in, but will not be the be all – end all of health.
The dose makes the poison
Did you know that water is toxic?
… when consumed in high amounts.
Water is essential for life and yet it can still be toxic when we drink too much.
So when influencers cite studies done on rats where they were exposed to an extremely high amount of a certain ingredient – it is not a valid argument that the same ingredient would be toxic at much lower levels for humans (until a study is done that actually shows it). The dose makes the poison. And correlation does not necessarily mean causation. Be mindful of ingredients where the research may be inconclusive about their effects on our health – but don’t fear them.
If you eat a piece of candy that has some food dye in it, you will be fine. If you eat 5 pounds of candy everyday for the rest of your life, then you may run into some issues.
ALSO – Calling candy poison is not going to make you stop eating it. Making a food “off limits” will make you want it more. When you do eat it, you’ll just feel guilty and extra stressed about it, which is definitely not good for your health.
Who to believe on social media
I believe (which may be naive of me) that many people do really care about our health and are just misinformed. It’s easy to get swept up into the trendy narratives on social media and fuel the misinformation being spread. (Like high school Liv when I first became interested in nutrition!) They think educating people of the “dangers” of certain foods and ingredients is beneficial and will really help.
On the other hand, it is important to remember that many people have built a brand around narratives like this. This line of thinking has become their livelihood. The crazier the claims, the more support they get, whether the information is accurate or not.
If you want the most accurate information about food science and its effects on our health – listen to the professionals with PhDs and dietitians who understand how to read research.
Here are some of my favorites on instagram:
So is candy actually toxic? Nope! No food in our food system is actually toxic (unless you are allergic to it). There are foods and ingredients that may be more or less health promoting. But no food has earned the title of “toxic” or “poisonous.”
Eat your fruits, veggies and whole grains but also enjoy your candy in peace!
If you want help dismantling your diet culture views on foods like candy – I’d love to work with you through 1:1 coaching! Click here to learn more!