Consuming candy does increase the level of glucose in your blood. Carbohydrates are distinct from protein and fat because it elevates your blood glucose levels. Candy contains added sugar, a type of carbohydrate that can significantly raise your blood glucose levels. Candy provides mostly empty calories, meaning it provides little or no nutrition.
Carbohydrate Types
Two types of carbohydrates, sugar and starch, elevate your blood glucose levels. The third type, fiber, does not. Fiber is an indigestible type of plant-based carbohydrate that passes through your body without increasing the level of glucose in your bloodstream. Some candies contain starch and fiber, but added sugars such as granulated sugar, high fructose corn syrup and molasses constitute most of the carbohydrate content in candy.
Candy and Carbohydrates
Most varieties of candy contain high amounts of sugar, a fast-acting simple carbohydrate. For example, one chocolate-covered wafer candy bar contains about 30 g of total carbohydrates; a 1-oz. serving of jelly beans contains about 26 g of total carbohydrates, and one chocolate, caramel and nougat candy bar contains about 41 g of total carbohydrates. Because candy is rich in sugar, eating it causes a rapid increase in your blood glucose levels. In contrast, foods rich in fiber and starch, such as whole grains, beans and legumes, produce less of an immediate impact on your blood glucose levels.
Blood Glucose
After you eat candy, it travels to your stomach for digestion. During the process of digestion, the sugars in the candy you consumed, including sucrose, fructose and lactose, are broken down into individual molecules of glucose, the simplest form of sugar. If the particular variety of candy you ate contained any starch, it also gets broken down into glucose, though at a less rapid rate. If the candy includes any nuts, the fiber in the nuts passes through your body undigested. All glucose molecules are emptied from your stomach into your small intestine. The glucose passes through the lining of your small intestine and enters your bloodstream, causing an increase in your blood glucose levels.
Considerations
Carbohydrates are an essential nutrient, as they provide your cells with their primary source of energy – glucose. The American Heart Association recommends that you consume no more than 100 to 150 calories from added sugars daily. To fulfill your daily recommended intake of carbohydrates – about 225 grams to 325 grams based on a 2,000 calorie diet – focus on nutrient-dense carbohydrates such as fruit, vegetables, whole grains, beans and low-fat dairy.
References
- American Diabetes Association: Food and Fitness – Carbohydrates
- American Diabetes Association: Food and Fitness – Glycemic Index and Diabetes
- MayoClinic.com; Nutrition and Healthy Eating – Dietary Fiber: Essential for a Healthy Diet; November 2009
- MayoClinic.com: Nutrition and Healthy Eating – Glycemic Index Diet: Losing Weight with Blood Sugar Control; Nov.ember2009
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: ChooseMyPlate.gov – Empty Calories: What are Added Sugars?
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Nutrient Database
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse – Your Digestive System and How it Works
- MayoClinic.com: Nutrition and Healthy Eating – Healthy Diet: End the Guesswork With These Nutrition Guidelines, February 2011
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: ChooseMyPlate.gov – Empty Calories: What are Empty Calories?
