Are sugar-free sweets healthy? Candy without sugar Nutritional value

You know that chocolate bars packaged in sugar = not so great for you. So … candy without sugar must be better, right? Yes, about that …

"Sugar-free sweets are always candy," says Alyssa Lavy, RD. Although it may not contain the same number of sugars as the conventionally sweet alternative, there is still no nutrition department … not to mention many other things that are not necessarily better for you.

But! Classic candies and no sugar can fit into a balanced diet, she says. You just need to know your facts:

What is the difference between how sugar-free sweets and ordinary sweets are sweet?

"Sugar-free sweets can be sweetened with a variety of sugar substitutes," says Lavy. She talks about artificial sweeteners such as saccharin, aspartame and sucralose; sugar alcohols, such as erythritol, mannitol, xylitol and sorbitol; or food additives, such as maltodextrin.

So far, it has not been proven that these substitutes were healthier than traditional sugar. In fact, some of them, including artificial sweeteners, have been associated with a potential alteration of the gut microbiome – or the collection of organisms in your digestive tract that protect the body from viruses and viruses. diseases, explains Lavy.

Other sugar supplements, especially sugar alcohols, can cause gas, bloating, diarrhea in some people, says Lavy.

So … you still have to read the facts about nutrition – even if a candy is sugar free.

You want to look specifically at the content of sugar-free sweets to make up for the lack of sugar, the size of the serving size and the amount of calories, saturated fat and carbohydrates.

"No sugar" does not necessarily mean "without carbs," says Lavy. Indeed, some alternatives to sweet products, such as sugar alcohols and maltodextrin, are still carbohydrates – and even if they are not. completely absorbed by your body, you will still absorb some (especially it is essential to note that you are diabetic and you must monitor your blood sugar).

And of course, calories and fat are always calories and fat. A lot of sugar-free sweets have numbers similar to the ordinary sweets of these departments. Plus, Lavy says that many people allow themselves to take all the sugar-free candy bag in one sitting because they think they are better for you. Who … sorry, but no. Moderation is always important.

That said … if you want to use some candy without sugar (and do not feel free!), Know that you will want to integrate these carbohydrates, grams of fat and calories to your recommended daily intake.

The bottom line: Alyssa Lavy, RD, says that you should treat her as ordinary sweets (because she's not really any better than regular sweets) and consume her like an ordinary candy. a delight.