The True Value Of Candy
It is one of those things that you are never too old to have. Candies leave a twinkle in the eyes of everyone. In fact, as a kid I had wild dreams where the entire world had mysteriously transformed onto candy land! I mean isn’t that the dream of a 6-year old kid.
Candies are meant to give you a reason to smile, to forget your troubles and take you to a world of sweet pleasure. Around the world candies have developed from a simple lump of sugar to over a million varieties of candies with different tastes. There are thousands of confectionaries that churn out candies by the bunch to suit the demands of the diverse public.
And now since the world has become a smaller place, a single candy can travel miles to reach you. Buying Mexican candy, or American or the French, or of any country for that matter has never been this easy.
To celebrate this love for candies here is a list of facts that every candy lover should know:
1. Discovery of Cotton Candy
Do you remember that pink sweet candy that just melts in your mouth? Cotton candy is simply crystallized sugar spun in thin threads. You won’t believe but this sweet sticky candy was invented by a dentist William Morrison. Though spun sugar has been a treat even in the early 15th century, but it was given its present shape by Mr. Morrison. Coupled with John C. Wharton, a confectioner the duo patented an electric candy making machine. It was very similar to modern devices.
At that time, this fluffy goodness was called ‘Fairy Floss’. Its soft texture and pink color were major selling points for the success of this candy. Well now you know whom to than for your cotton candy treats!
2. It’s Healthier than you think
Studies show that a rich dark chocolate bar comes packed with a bunch of anti-oxidant flavonoids. A chocolate bar every week reduces chances of heart diseases and strokes by over 40 percent. You want to live long then grab a bar of chocolate! The researchers at Harvard think so. According to their studies chocolates help the immune system allowing you to live longer.
A study based in UK found out that chocolates actually help in reducing Type-2 Diabetes. Chewing gum has been found to be a great stress buster. Also, peppermint candies are known to sharpen your focus and help you to study.
3. Candy Corn – It’s SO Halloween!
At 35 million pounds, and this number keeps rising each year, Candy corn is the top selling candy each year. That’s an awful lot of candy that is being made each and all for one occasion. Halloween! More than 70 percent of Americans associate Halloween with Candy Corn. This corny and sugar wrapped crunchy treat is the best thing to munch on all night long! Yes, they have a lot of calories but I am sure Halloween is everybody’s cheat day. The amount of Candy Corn that has been ever sold is huge. In fact, if you were to lay every piece of it from end to end it would circle the Earth more than four times. Now that qualifies it for a celestial treat!
4. Your Smile Explained
Chocolate is always a great reason to smile for! But now the researchers have done some extensive research to understand how chocolates help our toothy smile. It was found that chocolates have an enzyme called tryptophan which raises our mood. This tryptophan affects the endorphin levels in our brains. And these endorphins increase serotonin levels which induces euphoria.
5. Candy Survives Always
Recession had brought down huge global markets but the candy industry has sailed through them all. According to psychology studies people look to cheap ways of elevating their tense moods, and candies fit in that category perfectly!
Candies have even been sent as food for the soldiers during World War II.
Apparently, chocolates had a huge shelf life.