Healthy Eating: Should You Be Eating ‘That’ Many Gummy Bears?

However, experts warn that products that generally use ingredients like wheat syrup and corn syrup aren't healthy. This is backed by a 2015 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that reports that the consumption of products with corn syrup is associated with an increase in risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Are Sugar-free Gummy Bears Healthy?

The common Haribo sugar-free Gummy bears contain lycasin, which is a hydrogenated syrup that is primarily made from maltitol. Maltitol is a sugar alcohol which is a type of carbohydrate. Sugar alcohols occur naturally in fruits and vegetables, but they are also commercially used as alternative sweeteners to sugar.

Not only are they calorie-free, pose little to no harm to your dental health, react less with blood glucose and are easily digested. But just before you think, they're the next best thing, you must know that the FDA warns against excess consumption of sugar alcohols as they can cause digestion problems.

How To Make Your Own Gummy Bears?

Making your own gummy bears gives you control over its nutritional value and thus exposes you to lower risks of consuming too much sugar.

You'll need:

• corn syrup
• sugar
• water
• gelatin
• food coloring
• flavorings (from fruit juice and citric acid)

Method

• Mix the ingredients in a bowl
• Transfer them to a lot and let them cook slowly.
• While cooking, line the molds of your choosing wIth cornstarch to promote easy removal later.
• Pour the slurry formed into the molds.
• Let the gummy bears cool to 65º F. It’s allowed to sit for 24 hours so the slurry completely cools and sets.

Remove the gummy bears and place them in a tightly-sealed drum tumbler for safekeeping.