All of us abound to give in to our sweet cravings at one point or another. Sometimes, we substitute sweets with food even. However, have you stopped to think about how these are made. In particular, gummy candies? You will be truly shocked. We give you a sneak peek into what goes on behind the closed doors of these factories.
The first shock is that Gummy candies started off possibly as cows or pigs. The main ingredient used to make them is gelatin, a product that is got from a process called partial hydrolysis of collagen, which is found in bones, skin and connective tissue of animals. These elements are got from slaughterhouses, after which they are broken down and boiled in huge vats of acid before the process of colouring and packaging starts.
Gelatine is a product that is commonly found in sweets because it can form gels, foams and even solidifies into a piece that can dissolve in one’s mouth. Gelatine has some health benefits. It is known to have 18 amino acids. However, what harrows nutritionists is what this is mixed with to form the gummy bears that we actually do eat. Preservatives, high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, artificial flavours, sugars and gluten. These ingredients are highly inflammatory and very toxic as well.
Sugar, of course, being the most common and worst of them all. It finds its way into almost everything we eat – drinks, condiments, candies and various other products. A few candies have alarmingly high levels of sugar that can be cholesterol clogging and harm your health.
Gummy bears have 17 gms of sugar, along with artificial colouring, flavouring and citric acid. Those that are sugar coated have 26 grams of sugar along with the artificial flavouring and colouring. Starburst candies are jam-packed with corn syrup and also apple concentrate, which comes up to 22 grams of sugar in just a mere 9 pieces.
This Halloween, avoid eating gummy bears that can be harmful to health and choose healthier alternatives. You should make an appointment with Hermeet Singh Suri (HOM, BSc., RHN, Epigeneticist) at The Homeopathic Plus Centre to learn how alternatives made with natural sweeteners can help you lead a healthy life, enjoy festivities and stay healthy as well.
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