Don’t Be Fooled By These 8 Candy Myths
4 min reading time
In a lot of ways, candy has really gotten a bad (w)rap over the years. And while many candy lovers are willing to ignore the rumors and indulge in their favorite sweets anyway, we think it’s time everyone knows the truth. With April Fools right around, we’ve chosen the high road this year and are here to help you avoid being fooled by these 8 candy myths any longer!
1. Pop Rocks & Soda are a Dangerous Combination.
In the 1980’s, Pop Rocks were a big hit as a fun and unique candy experience. However, this candy’s ability to fizz on your tongue sparked a silly urban legend many still believe today. It’s true that the candy does create carbon dioxide while it pops, but certainly not enough to cause your stomach to explode when mixed with soda. So no, there have not been any serious injuries due to the combination. Similarly, having Mentos and soda together is also perfectly fine, despite the foam they create when mixed.
2. It Takes 7 Years to Digest Gum.
Were you ever told to spit out your gum as a kid, just to swallow it out of spite instead? Were you then told it takes 7 years to digest in your stomach and felt instant panic? Tsk, tsk. Well, jokes on you because gum takes no longer than any other food to digest in the stomach. This myth most likely stems from the fact that gum is indigestible, but so are many other foods like seeds and some starches, but that doesn’t mean they sit in your stomach. And no, just because it’s sticky, doesn’t mean it will stick to your stomach lining.
3. People with Diabetes Should Avoid Chocolate.
Good news... people with diabetes don’t have to completely avoid all chocolate! In fact, you’ll be surprised to hear that chocolate has a low glycemic index. Recent studies actually suggest that dark chocolate can improve insulin sensitivity in people with high blood pressure and improve endothelial dysfunction. Of course, your doctor will have a final say on the matter, but don’t completely count chocolate out yet!
4. There’s No Such Thing as Healthy Candy.
In reality, a lot of great sweets like lollipops, candy canes and gummies have 0 cholesterol or fat, making them healthier than most people know. And a lot of other tasty hard candies and even licorice are fat-free and low-calorie with little to no cholesterol. For example, a handful of raisins actually contains more calories than the same amount of candy corn. Who knew?
And don’t get us started on chocolate. Offering a variety of minerals and just as much antioxidants as a 5 oz. glass of wine or 2 ¾ cups of green tea, a delicious dark candy bar basically boasts superfood status!
5. Chocolate Causes Acne.
Don’t believe any teen you talk to; science will defend chocolate when it comes being blamed for causing acne. Studies dating all the way back to the 1960’s have shown no correlation between the two, even in large amounts of consumption. So go ahead, and eat all the chocolate you want without any worry about your skin!
6. You Can Get Addicted to Chocolate.
Your sweet tooth may always win out when you’re trying to resist a bite of those delicious chocolate candies you have in the pantry, but chocolate is no more addictive than any other favorite food of yours. You can just as easily satisfy that craving with a naturally sweet food like fruit, but you just choose not to (it’s ok, we don’t blame you).
7. The Five-Second Rule
This one is good to know for ALL food. You’ve just dropped a piece of chocolate on the floor. Quick! Pick it up in the next 5 seconds! Then it’s totally fine to eat, right? Wrong. Experiments have actually been done that showed significant amounts of bacteria were picked up by dropped food in that 5-second window. The rule does deserve some credit, however, as studies have also shown that time is in fact a significant factor in bacteria being transferred to a piece of food. So while you’re not completely in the clear, the quicker you can pick up that truffle, the better.
8. The Sugar in Chocolate/Candy Causes Hyperactivity.
DO NOT give children too much candy; they’ll be bouncing off the walls! Again, we need to stop pointing the finger at chocolate. Lots of studies have offered plenty of proof that the link between excess sugar and hyperactive behavior exist. Instead, it’s much more realistic to blame the environment (kids’ birthday party, holidays, etc.), or that we’re just simply making it up in our heads because this silly myth exists.
If there’s one thing we don’t joke about, it’s candy. We’re loyal until the end, but knowing these popular beliefs are in fact myths, certainly helps us enjoy every bite even more! Now you can load up on all your favorite candies and enjoy them this spring without any guilt. We’ve got all the very best brands of candy and premium chocolate in bulk so you can stock up on as much as you want whenever you want. No joke!