User:Jcolby11

What is Candy?
Candy is known to be a sweet and small kind of food that is typically made with sugar or syrup combined with fruit, nuts, or chocolate. Candy can be extremely sour, sweet, or even salty. It can have a very chewy, hard, mushy, or crunchy texture. Sometimes, candy cannot be chewed and is instead, sucked on. Many would say that they are addicted to candy, as it gives people a sugar- high and serves as a delicious, sweet snack!

History
The word candy has been used ever since the late 13th century. It derives from the Arabic term “qandi,” meaning "made of sugar.” The history of candy dates back to the first cavemen who began eating honeycombs and honey. The creation of candy can be traced back to ancient Egyptians who would combine nuts and fruits with honey as far as 1500BC. Additionally, at this time, the Greeks used honey to make candied flowers and fruits. Before the time of the Industrial Revolution, candy was considered to be a form of medicine. It was used to calm the digestive system and was also used to calm a sore throat.

With the variety of different types of candy, such as chocolate, hard candies, etc., comes their different histories. For example, the Mayans as well as the Aztecs are both recognized for their passion for the cocoa bean. In fact, they were the first people to ever drink chocolate. With that being said, the first chocolate bar was created in 1847 in England, by a man named Joseph Fry. This was discovered when he mixed melted cacao butter, sugar, and cocoa powder. This created a paste that could later be pressed into a mold. Later in this process, the final product, or the solid chocolate bar, was named “Fry’s Chocolate Cream Bar,” and the chocolate bar has been loved ever since. Additionally, the candy cane has an interesting history. The famous candy cane has been popular ever since 1670, as it was originated at that time in Germany. Its Christmas treat reputation developed in the 1920’s, when a man named Bob McCormack began making these candies around Christmas time. The mass production of this treat first started in the 1950’s, when the first candy cane machine was invented by Gregory Keller.

Nutrition
Candy is loved and popular among both children and adults; however, it contains negative health effects. This is because all candy has high amounts of added sugars and calories. With that being said, nutritional experts believe that sugar consumption is the leading cause of obesity and diseases, like type 2 diabetes. Along with obesity, high amounts of fructose intake can cause a resistance to leptin, otherwise known as a hormone that regulates hunger, which tells your body to stop eating. Additionally, consuming too much sugar, especially added sugars in candy, has been associated with an increased risk of heart disease, high blood sugar and pressure levels, inflammation and high triglycerides, and other harmful effects on one’s body.