Okay. I admit that I like sugar. And by sugar I mean gummy candies.

I tell myself we are wired to want sugar and fats, so it’s not my fault? Okay?

But I know that it isn’t good for you. There are so many added sugars in our foods to begin with. Eating a food like gummy bears is really throwing fuel on the fire.

Sugar in foods like soda and candy hit your body differently than sugar in say, a piece of fruit. That’s because the fiber makes the fruit sugar get digested more slowly. The sugar from those gummy bears is gonna hit all at once.

The American Heart Association (AHA) has a good explanation on how much sugar is too much (AHA, 2024). According to their recommendation, a woman can surpass her daily added sugar allowance with two handfuls of gummy bears. They recommend no more than 25 grams of added sugars for women, and 36 grams for men (AHA, 2024).

I work at a cancer center. Over the years, patients have told me they are afraid that sugar is feeding their cancer. The thought process is that if they don’t eat sugar, they’ll starve the cancer. This isn’t the case.

Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) has a great article explaining this (Piersol, 2025). Sugar and excess calories in general can contribute to risk factors for cancer. Obesity is one example of such a risk factor. Nonetheless, cancer will eat anything that is around (Piersol, 2025). Cancer cells don’t know how to stop, and they’ll use anything and everything to fuel their growth. Not having sugar will not stop the cancer. It will simply consume something else instead (Piersol, 2025).

So the moral of the story?

I think moderation is the key. Having a few (insert favorite sugary candy here) every now and then is not going to hurt. BUT. We need to be aware of how much added sugar is in our food. Specialty coffees, cereals, breads, and processed foods can all have added sugars. Looking at the labels can help. Look under the “total carbohydrate” line on the label. Under that is a subheading called “added sugars.” That’s where you can start to pay attention to how much is in your foods.

Reaching for a piece of fruit instead of a piece of candy is also a good place to start.

What’s your favorite way to outsmart a sweet tooth? I’d love to hear from you!

References:

American Heart Association (2024, September 23). How Much Sugar Is Too Much? Heart. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/sugar/how-much-sugar-is-too-much

Piersol, B. (2025, April 10). The Lowdown on Sugar and Cancer: MSK Experts Look at the Evidence. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (mskcc). https://www.mskcc.org/news/no-sugar-no-cancer-look-evidence