Nutrition Facts on Diet Candy

Diet candy, also often referred to as sugar-free candy, is an alternative option for those seeking to satisfy a sugar craving without actually consuming sugar. It also provides options for diabetics and others who are unable to consume much or any sugar for health reasons. Diet or sugar-free candy should be examined for health purposes as much as any other type of candy. This type of candy can potentially be as harmful to one's health as sugar-filled candy is.

Sugar Substitutes

• There are several sugar substitutes used in candies. Some are cautioned against for health reasons, specifically for reasons pertaining to their artificial origin and studies done about their affect on the body. Some common types of sweeteners used in diet candy include: sorbitol, saccharine, aspartame, xylitol and malitol. Xylitol and aspartame are commonly used in gum, while malitol is frequently used in chocolate-flavored candies.

Dyes

• Dyes are commonly used, not just in diet candy, but all candy. Often these dyes have artificial origins that, though in many cases not proven to be, can offer potential harm to your health. Dyes can also cause allergic reactions in children. It is easy to spot dyed candies - those with bright colors, such as M&Ms, Twizzlers, Runts, Nerds, and other candies that would ordinarily sport a clear or white color.

Flavorings

• Diet candy will contain flavorings just like regular candy. Examples of such include mint, cinnamon and butterscotch. These flavors are usually combined with sugar, but will in the case of diet candy be combined with a sugar substitute or a sugar derivative to produce an equally sweet flavor. It is not the flavor that contains the high caloric levels. Some flavorings are natural and others artificial, a trait that is usually reflected on the packaging.

Caloric Values

• Caloric values of diet candies are often not as low as one might expect them to be. This is because diet candies usually cater to a low sugar or a low carbohydrate diet. Some varieties of candies will include nuts and cornstarch as a thickening substance, adding caloric value. Rarely will a diet candy carry fruit, as fruit has natural sugars in it.