With its bright colors and shapes, candy appeals to most children. Among adults the taste for it ranges from those who can't say no to those who can't stand the stuff. In between the two extremes there is a variety of alternatives.

Bad image
Candy, gum and sweets in general have a bad reputation and there are reasons for this. First, they are rich in sugar, which causes weight-gain and obesity. These problems are growing at an alarming rate among Spanish children. Also, excessive consumption of sugar damages teeth because, when mixed with saliva, it activates micro-organisms that cause cavities. Furthermore, candy is taking the place of healthier, more nutritional foods. The overall diet is affected and ends up imbalanced. There can be deficiencies of vitamins and other essential things. Eating candy all day is not the best way to develop good eating habits, which should be encouraged from childhood.

Responsible consumption
Any health diet is based on the overall concept of moderation. Denying children candy altogether would make children's lives dull and not really make them all that healthier.
But rather than recommend it as an essential part of the diet (one can live without them)
it is a good idea to talk about what they are made of and what they provide the body with.

Candy's main ingredient -sugar- is bad for one's health if eaten to excess. But when consumed in adequate amounts it is necessary and does not cause any harm. It must
be pointed out that glucose is the fundamental food for the brain, giving it the energy it needs. Sugar is also necessary at times when the body is burning a lot of energy,
such as during strenuous exercise.

On the other hand, candies like jelly beans have gelatin which provide proteins without adding hardly any fat. As for the question of weight recall that a piece of candy or gum contains 17 calories, and five of them have the same energy content as an individual
portion of jam. So the thing to avoid is eating candy often, not so much having
them now and then.

Tips from professionals
Sugar does have a role in the emergence of cavities, but it is only an unleashing factor
and certainly not the most important one. If you observe good dental hygiene, brushing
your teeth three times a day, and use fluoride toothpaste, eating candy has no reason to worsen the problem.

These conclusions are part of a study carried out and endorsed by the Spanish Association of Dentists and Nutritionists. Of course, it is best to eat candies all at once rather than in doses throughout the day. The reason for this is that the risk of micro-organisms developing in the body has to do with the frequency with which one eats sugar. Nor should you forget that today there are sugarless candies and gums that instead contain sweeteners, or other varieties enriched with vitamins, minerals and even fiber. These should under no circumstances take the place of a  regular food but they can help enrich one's diet.

Candy does not have to disappear from the diets of children or adults.  Don't forget that it
is only human nature to like the taste of sweet things (unlike the taste for salty things,
which is acquired) and as it is written in our genetic code, it is really difficult not to satisfy this urge now and then.