Halloween Candy: Trick or Treat?

For most of us, Halloween is a fun time of the year. Fall weather, beautiful foliage, Halloween decorations, costumes, happy children, parties, CANDY!

Did I mention candy? Oh right. Candy. It does have its appeal … it’s sweet, it’s fun, it’s colorful (not naturally colorful, but colorful nonetheless) and at this time of year, it’s ubiquitous!

We know it’s not a smart addition to a healthful diet or a healthy life. And yet, for so many of us it’s difficult to resist when we’re surrounded by it. What are we to do? What if we have high BP and we’re working toward Better Numbers, Better Life? We need a couple of tools to help us navigate this holiday.

Here are a couple of ideas that will hopefully assist you in accomplishing your Better Numbers, Better Life goal, while still keeping the smile on the Jack O’ Lantern:

1. Environmental Control. We’ve discussed this in a previous issue of The Circulatory. To sum it up: Don’t keep things in your environment (home, car, work) that will constantly be calling your name and begging you to get rid of it by eating it! When it’s there, it takes a huge amount of willpower to resist it. We all have willpower sometimes. NONE of us has it all of the time! We’re all human (even if we’re wearing a gorilla costume for Halloween) and it’s okay to have some candy.  Sometimes if we tell ourselves that we can’t have any at all, we rebel and eat everything in sight. It’s better to let yourself enjoy some. It’s an unusual day and it’s just one day, if you implement some environmental control!
2. Buy yourself some candy that is actually good for you. Candy that’s good for you? Yes! Is it colorful? No. Is it your first choice? Maybe, maybe not. Can you savor it as it melts in your mouth while knowing that it’s affirmatively GOOD for your blood pressure? YES!!! What is it? DARK CHOCOLATE! Yes, there are studies showing that it actually has the effect of decreasing both systolic and diastolic blood pressure! Pounds of it? No. But as we mentioned in our section of “What Foods To Eat” in our eBook about high blood pressure (which you can download for free at 120life.com), you can have an ounce a day of 70% dark chocolate. Yes, every day! :)

What’s the takeaway? If candy is your thing, decide ahead of time which 3 types are your favorite, and allow yourself to have one of each. No need to feel deprived.  After you eat that 3rd piece, put a period at the end of that sentence by eating a piece of 70% dark chocolate … and/or, an apple. You get to start a new sentence the next day. Don’t try to “make up for it”. Just eat normally. The way you do in working toward Better Numbers, Better Life. Put any leftover candy in a bag, tie it in a knot and give it away. Perhaps to a children’s charity or a homeless shelter, or whatever floats your boat. Except for the 70% dark chocolate! Good for your health! And the soul!

Happy Halloween and here’s to your health!