Say Goodbye to Tummy Aches this Halloween with these Delicious Low Fructose Candies!

Halloween is synonymous with candy and costumes – but mostly candy. However, it’s also accompanied by tummy aches and tooth cavities. Needless to say, you can really feel left out of the festivities if you’re suffering from digestive problems such as IBS. Issues that get worse with ingredients found in candy, namely fructose. And let’s be honest – no one can resist candy. So, prevention and avoidance are already out of the question. Fortunately, though, there is low fructose candy available in the market that you can safely eat without worrying about health conditions. Read on to find out which candies are low in fructose! 

What is low Fructose candy? Is it similar to Low FODMAP Diet? 

Simply put, low fructose candy is any candy that has a small amount of fructose in it. Fructose is a type of sugar, just like glucose. However, it needs to be broken down by your liver before it can be absorbed into the body. Unlike glucose, which is readily absorbed and gives you instant energy.  

Normally, candies, snacks and other beverages contain high-fructose corn syrup. An ingredient that causes numerous health disorders in your body, including irritable bowel syndrome. Globally, a low FODMAP diet has become popular for the treatment of IBS. For better understanding, FODMAP stands for “Fermentable, Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols. 

Why is fructose bad for your body? 

Technically, it’s not fructose that’s bad for you as it is naturally present in low fructose fruits and people have been eating it for eons with no problem. What’s bad for you is high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) that these capitalistic corporations sneak into your food and snacks in unimaginably high quantities. Moreover, they deceive people into thinking that these food products are completely safe and healthy so that people will continue to buy more.  

The truth is, HFCS is extremely bad for you. According to research, HFCS plays a leading role in the epidemic of obesity that plagues American people. Furthermore, it is linked with high risks of developing fatty liver disease and hypertension. Another study calls it a “sweet death” because it damages your metabolism and is considered a metabolic toxin. It is also the leading cause of IBS and makes it worse. In conclusion, high amounts of fructose found in candies, soft drinks, and snacks are extremely harmful for your body.

How to Choose your Low Fructose Halloween Candy? 

This begs the question – do we have to eliminate all candy from our diet? And what about Halloween? You can’t not eat candy on Halloween! And we hear you. We understand how difficult it is to stick to a diet, especially during Halloween and other festivals. So, don’t worry. There are plenty of low fructose candy options out there that won’t interfere with your IBS and weight loss plan. Basically, you need to be more vigilant while choosing your Halloween candy. Read the ingredients list and avoid anything that contains HFCS and agave syrup. Keep in mind that simple corn syrup is considered low FODMAP food. Specifically, avoid high fructose corn syrup. Other things to avoid include dairy based milk and wheat-based products (KitKat is out, sorry). 

Top 10 Low Fructose Candy to Buy this Halloween for Improved Health!  

Ideally, we’d recommend making your own freeze-dried candy or homemade desserts for the best healthy option. However, not everyone feels up for it. That’s why here are top 10 commercially available low FODMAP candies for people on IBS and weight loss diets – in an alphabetical order! 

1. Atomic Fireballs 

There aren’t many candies that start with “A” and are also low FODMAP but Atomic Fireballs are both! They contain less than 2% of corn starch, acacia and artificial flavor. The main sugar used in these are Sucrose also. Nevertheless, do not eat more than 3. 

2.Butterfingers 

Butterfingers contain corn syrup but not HFCS so it’s a safe option also. Other ingredients include sugar, roasted peanuts, cocoa, molasses and less than 1% of dairy product solids. Serving size should be limited to 2-3 bite size bars or half of a regular sized bar. 

3.Boston Baked Beans 

They also don’t contain HFCS, only corn syrup, corn starch, peanuts and small amounts of artificial flavor. Do not consume more than 20 to 25 beans though. 

4.Cadbury Mini Eggs 

This yummy treat contains milk chocolate and less than 2% of corn syrup and cornstarch. You can safely eat around 3 Cadbury mini eggs. 

5.Dove Promises Silky Smooth Dark 

This is probably one of the best chocolates out there, containing no corn syrup or cornstarch – only semisweet chocolate. Limit the quantity to 3 pieces or 24g in total. 

6.Dum Dums Lollipop 

Although, dum dums lollipop is entirely made up of corn syrup and sugar, it is still a low FODMAP candy. Eat no more than 3 to 4 of these. 

7.Haribo Gummy Bears 

Fortunately, gummy bears do not contain corn syrup at all. The main ingredient for these is glucose syrup, sugar, gelatine and some artificial and natural flavors. Serving size should be limited to 10-13 pieces. 

8.Justin’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups 

Another candy that does not contain HFSC at all. According to the label, it contains organic dark chocolate, cane sugar, organic peanut powder and cocoa butter. You should safely eat one full sized cup. 

9.Reese’s Pieces 

Reese’s pieces also contain less than 2% of corn syrup and fructose. Mostly, it is made up of whey milk, sugar, peanuts and vegetable oils. Recommended serving size for a low FODMAP diet is between 10 to 20 pieces.  

10.Sour Patch Kids 

Another candy that’s made from corn syrup and sugar. Added ingredients are citric and tartaric acid. Consume no more than 6 to 8 pieces. 

Final Words 

Of course, these candies do not beat keto, or a low carb diet in terms of being healthy. Still, these are the most health positive low in HFSC candies that you can indulge in this Halloween!