Why Sugar is Spooky for Your Health: The Real Monster Behind Alzheimer's

With Halloween around the corner, it’s the season of candy, costumes, and sugar overload. But as tempting as those sweet treats are, there’s a darker side to sugar that you might not know about—especially when it comes to your brain health.

The Hidden Dangers of Sugar: More Than Just a Treat

While Halloween candy might seem like harmless fun, sugar is more than just a quick energy boost. It’s been linked to a host of serious health problems, including obesity, heart disease, and even Alzheimer’s disease—often referred to as “Type 3 Diabetes.”

Yes, sugar can do more damage than you think, especially when it comes to your brain.

Here’s how it works: when you consume high amounts of sugar, it triggers inflammation and leads to insulin resistance, which plays a key role in brain degeneration. Over time, this can cause the brain to stop using glucose properly—essentially starving your brain of the energy it needs. This can set the stage for cognitive decline, and eventually, Alzheimer’s disease.

Top 10 Worst Halloween Candies

So, here’s a list of the Top 10 Worst Halloween Candies you might want to think twice about before indulging:

Candy Corn – Packed with artificial flavors and colors and almost entirely made of sugar.
Butterfinger – Loaded with corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, and saturated fats.
Snickers – Contains high amounts of sugar, along with trans fats and artificial additives.
Twizzlers – High in sugar and artificial dyes, which can increase inflammation.
Sour Patch Kids – The high acidity can harm your teeth, while the sugar and artificial colors don’t do any favors for your health.
Milk Duds – Full of sugar and artificial flavors, with very little actual nutritional value.
Skittles – Packed with artificial colors, flavors, and tons of sugar.
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups – Contains high amounts of sugar and unhealthy fats, making it far from a healthy choice.
Jawbreakers – Hard on your teeth, with loads of artificial dyes and sugar.
3 Musketeers – Contains a high sugar content and artificial additives, offering very little in terms of nutrition.

Sugar and the Destruction of Your Blood Vessels

One of the scariest effects of sugar is how it destroys the lining of your blood vessels.

Every time you indulge in sugary treats, you’re contributing to the breakdown of the delicate inner lining of your arteries, known as the endothelium. This damage doesn’t just affect your heart—it also impacts blood flow to your brain, increasing the risk of stroke and dementia. It affects every organ in your body!

Halloween candy may seem harmless, but the sugar inside is doing real damage to your body from the inside out. As you reach for that extra piece of candy, remember—sugar isn’t just a treat; it’s a trick that can have long-lasting effects on your health.

Don’t Blame the Fruit: The Real Culprit Is Processed Sugar

Let’s clear up one common misconception: whole fruit isn’t the enemy.

I’ve heard so many people blame fruit for weight gain or blood sugar spikes, but did you know that only 2% of the calories Americans consume come from whole fruit? The real issue is added sugars—the kind found in processed foods, candy, and sugary drinks.

Fruit is packed with fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants, making it a healthy and natural part of your diet. Unlike candy, the sugars in whole fruit are released slowly into your bloodstream, helping to regulate your blood sugar levels. So, go ahead and enjoy that apple or orange guilt-free—it’s the processed sugar that’s haunting your health.

Stevia: A Healthier, Natural Alternative

So, how do you satisfy your sweet tooth without damaging your body?

One great option is the stevia plant. Unlike sugar, whole stevia plant doesn’t spike your blood sugar levels or harm your blood vessels. It’s a natural, zero-calorie sweetener that comes from the leaves of the stevia plant, offering a healthier way to enjoy sweetness without the negative side effects. I do not recommend the highly-processed stevia extract, though.

Next time you’re craving something sweet, reach for whole fruit. It’s a small change that can make a big difference in your health, especially when it comes to protecting your brain and blood vessels.

Beware of the Sugar Monster

Sugar might be a part of everyday life, but its impact on your body and brain is far from harmless. From contributing to conditions like Alzheimer’s to damaging the lining of your blood vessels, the effects of sugar run deep.

By cutting back on processed sugars and embracing natural alternatives like whole fruit and stevia, you can protect your health, reduce inflammation, and support your brain and heart. It’s not about eliminating all sweetness—it’s about finding balance and making choices that nourish your body rather than harm it.