Jeffrey Salazar
The keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet that puts the body into a metabolic state known as ketosis, where fat is burned for energy instead of carbohydrates. This means that most sweets and candies are off-limits for those following a keto diet. However, there are some keto-friendly candy options available, and one popular option is Smart Sweets. Smart Sweets are candy products marketed towards people who want to avoid sugar, artificial colours, and excess calories. They are non-GMO, contain no added sugar, sugar alcohols, or artificial sweeteners, and are sweetened with allulose, a natural sugar alternative. While Smart Sweets are positioned as a healthier alternative to traditional candy, there is some debate about whether they are truly keto-friendly due to their high carbohydrate content.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Carbohydrates | SmartSweets are considered to have a fairly high amount of carbohydrates. A 50g bag of peach ring SmartSweets contains 23 grams of carbs. |
| Sweeteners | SmartSweets uses a sweetener called allulose, which is found naturally in certain foods like raisins or figs but can also be produced in a lab. It is classified as a non-digestible carbohydrate and is considered a zero-calorie sweetener. |
| Sugar | SmartSweets products have 3 grams of sugar per bag. |
| Ingredients | SmartSweets products are non-GMO, with no added sugar, no sugar alcohols, and no artificial sweeteners. |
| Ketosis | There is a risk that consuming SmartSweets may kick individuals out of ketosis. |
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What You'll Learn
Smart Sweets' ingredients and their effects on blood sugar and ketosis
Smart Sweets are candy for people who want to avoid sugar, artificial colours, and excess calories. They are non-GMO, contain no added sugar, no sugar alcohols, and no artificial sweeteners. However, Smart Sweets does not state whether or not they have tested their candies for effects on blood sugar and ketone production. Therefore, it is important to treat them as occasional treats, as they are likely to decrease insulin sensitivity and kick you out of ketosis if consumed regularly.
Smart Sweets uses a sweetener called allulose, which has 90% fewer calories than sugar but retains the sweet taste. Allulose is not absorbed by the body and is classified as a non-digestible carbohydrate. It passes through the body without interacting with digestive enzymes or converting into simple sugar.
Smart Sweets also uses monk fruit, a low-glycemic natural sweetener, and isomalto-oligosaccharides (IMO), a soluble tapioca fiber that replaces corn syrup. IMO is considered a non-digestible carbohydrate, similar to fiber, but without the same health benefits.
Rice flour is used as a thickening agent in Smart Sweets, but it is not keto-approved. Spirulina extract is added for colour, but it may be contaminated with unsafe toxins that can cause stomach upset and liver damage.
While Smart Sweets may be a better option than traditional candy, they are still likely to raise insulin levels, which can halt fat-burning and increase appetite. Therefore, they should be consumed in moderation as part of a healthy keto lifestyle.
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Smart Sweets' nutritional value and whether they are nutrient-dense
Smart Sweets are candy for people who want to avoid sugar, artificial colours, and excess calories. They are non-GMO, contain no added sugar, no sugar alcohols, and no artificial sweeteners. The company says that their products can help consumers build a healthier relationship with food and feel good about eating candy. Smart Sweets are popular in the low-carb and keto communities.
Smart Sweets offers a variety of plant-based candy options, including Sweet Fish, Sour Blast Buddies, Peach Rings, Sourmelon Bites, Tropical Sours, Barbie x SmartSweets Pink Lemonade Dream, SweetChews, Cinnamon Bears, Red Twists, Caramels, and Lollipops. The company also offers gummy worms, which contain gelatin and are not plant-based.
Smart Sweets uses a sweetener called allulose, which has approximately 0.4 calories per gram, compared to regular sugar, which has 4 calories per gram. Allulose is classified as a non-digestible carbohydrate that passes through the body without interacting with digestive enzymes or converting to simple sugar. The company also uses monk fruit, a low-glycemic natural sweetener, in most of its products.
Smart Sweets' nutritional information tests for various types of sugar, including fructose, glucose, sucrose, lactose, maltose, galactose, and isomaltose. They swap out sugar with approved sources of dietary fibre, which plays a key role in digestive health and helps people feel full for longer.
While Smart Sweets are low in carbs and sugar, it is important to note that they may not be nutrient-dense. As with any treat, they should be consumed in moderation as part of a healthy diet.
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The company's transparency about ingredients and their effects
SmartSweets has been appreciated for its transparency about ingredients and their effects. The company clearly lists all the ingredients on the packaging, allowing consumers to make informed decisions about their purchases.
The company has also been praised for its commitment to using natural ingredients and providing an alternative to sugary candy. SmartSweets' candies are non-GMO, contain no added sugar, no sugar alcohols, and no artificial sweeteners. Instead, they use sweeteners like allulose, monk fruit, and stevia leaf extract, which are considered zero-calorie or low-calorie sweeteners. Allulose, for example, has only 0.4 calories per gram compared to regular sugar, which has 4 calories per gram.
SmartSweets has also been mindful of the keto community's feedback and has worked to reduce the net carbs in their products as much as possible. They have removed tapioca fiber from their recipe after discovering that it doesn't always act like a true fiber in the body, and they now use two new types of fiber. Each bag of SmartSweets candy includes a breakdown of the total net carbs, allowing consumers to make informed choices about their keto diet.
However, it is important to note that SmartSweets doesn't explicitly state whether they have tested their candies for effects on blood sugar and ketone production. While their products are low in carbs, they may not be nutrient-dense, and consuming them should be treated as an occasional treat rather than a regular indulgence.
Overall, SmartSweets' transparency about ingredients and their potential effects empowers consumers to make educated decisions about incorporating their products into their keto diet or any other dietary preferences they may have.
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The taste and texture of Smart Sweets
Smart Sweets are candy for people who want to avoid sugar, artificial colours, and excess calories. They are non-GMO, contain no added sugar, no sugar alcohols, and no artificial sweeteners. The company offers a range of sweet and sour candy flavours, including Sweet Fish, Sour Blast Buddies, and Peach Rings.
Smart Sweets uses a sweetener called allulose, which is found naturally in certain foods like raisins or figs but can also be produced in a lab. Allulose is not metabolised by the body, and with only 0.4 calories per gram, it provides 90% fewer calories than regular sugar. However, some people consider allulose to be a foreign sweetener that triggers an insulin response, which could be dangerous for diabetics.
Smart Sweets also uses soluble tapioca fibre (also known as isomalto-oligosaccharides or IMO) as a replacement for the corn syrup found in traditional candy. This helps to reduce the number of net carbs in the product. In addition, the company has recently updated its recipe to include two new types of fibre, replacing tapioca fibre, which was found to not always act like a true fibre in the body.
While Smart Sweets has been praised for its focus on natural ingredients and providing an alternative to sugary candy, some people have found the taste and texture unappealing. One reviewer described the texture as "waxy" and the taste as "fairly tasteless".
Overall, while Smart Sweets may not be the perfect treat for everyone, it offers a range of sweet and sour candy options that are low in sugar and calories and made with natural ingredients.
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Alternative keto-friendly candies
While SmartSweets are marketed as a healthier alternative to traditional candy, with no artificial sweeteners, added sugar, or sugar alcohols, they are not specifically designed for the keto diet. In fact, some of the ingredients in SmartSweets, such as rice flour and spirulina extract, are not keto-approved. Therefore, it is important to be cautious when consuming SmartSweets on a keto diet, as even low-carb treats can spike your blood sugar and kick you out of ketosis.
Lily's Sweets: Lily's Sweets offers bite-sized caramels covered in 55% dark chocolate. They are sweetened naturally with stevia and erythritol, a sugar alcohol that may cause less digestive upset than other artificial sweeteners. Lily's also offers a variety of other low-sugar chocolate candies, bars, and baking chips that are perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth while on a keto diet.
ChocZero: ChocZero is another popular option for keto-friendly chocolate candies. They offer a large assortment of products, including peanut butter eggs and hazelnut butter cups, which are a great alternative to Nutella and other chocolate-hazelnut spreads. ChocZero's products are truly delicious, but be mindful of portion control, as they can trigger cravings and binge eating.
Sweetwell Keto Chocolate Bites: Sweetwell offers a keto-friendly alternative to traditional, sugary, chocolate-covered nuts. Their products are sweetened with stevia and contain natural ingredients like cocoa butter, roasted peanuts or almonds, and cocoa. Unlike some other keto chocolate-covered nut products, Sweetwell does not use artificial flavors, sweeteners, or colors.
Bulletproof's Original Milk Style Chocolate Bar: If you're a fan of milk chocolate, this bar is a great keto-friendly option. Despite tasting like it's packed with sugar, it only has 2 net carbs per 30-gram serving. It is sweetened with stevia and erythritol, which do not impact blood sugar, making it a keto-friendly treat.
BHU Keto Truffle Fat Bombs: These fat bombs are perfect for keto dieters looking for a decadent-tasting dessert that fits into their daily carb count. They are certified organic and come in delicious flavors like Double Dark Chocolate, Hazelnut, Mint, and Peanut Butter.
In addition to these options, there are also sugar-free selections from classic candy brands such as Russell Stover, LifeSavers, and Hershey's. You can also explore low-carb brands like KooChiKoo for sugar-free lollipops and La Nouba for marshmallows. Jelly Belly also offers sugar-free jelly beans in various classic flavors, sweetened with Splenda.
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Frequently asked questions
Smart Sweets are not keto-friendly as they are high in carbs and have no balancing factors of fats or proteins. However, they are sweetened with allulose, a zero-calorie sweetener that is not metabolized by the body. The total net carbs for each candy bag is 18g.
Some keto-friendly candy options include Dr. John's Healthy Sweets Peppermint Hard Candy, BHU Keto Truffle Fat Bombs, Sweetwell Keto Chocolate Bites, and Bulletproof Original Milk Style Chocolate Bar.
It is generally recommended to stay away from Smart Sweets on a keto diet as they may kick you out of ketosis. However, ultimately it is up to you to decide if you want to include them in your diet, as long as you stay within your daily carb limit.
