3 Reasons Halloween Candy Is Messing With Your Gut Lining + What To Do About It

If there's any time of year to indulge in some of your favorite childhood candies, it's Halloween. Unfortunately, however, if you've been hitting the sweets, you might notice your digestion is taking a hit. Here's why your gut lining is actually affected by Halloween treats, plus how to mindfully enjoy sweets sans stomach pain, from experts.

"As of August 7, 2022, titanium dioxide is no longer allowed as a food additive in the European Union," Bulsiewicz says, adding, "And you'll find it in far more than Skittles—keep an eye out and review your kids' Halloween candy stocks." (By law, it needs to be listed on food labels.)

As board-certified internist Vincent M. Pedre, M.D., explains, sugar can be the worst gut offender because it creates an imbalance in the microbiome. Studies have also shown a high sugar intake can be inflammatory and may feed "bad" bacteria3 in the gut.

Lastly, if your go-to candy includes milk chocolate, you might find that dairy is the culprit of some discomfort. You're not alone: Dairy products give a lot of us stomach grief—about 65% of the population, in fact. With lactose intolerance, the body doesn't have enough of the enzyme, lactase, needed to properly break down lactose, which can lead to gastrointestinal distress.

You can also lean into more gut-supporting foods and lifestyle factors in addition to your probiotic regimen. Bulsiewicz, for example, previously recommended peanuts, broccoli sprouts, sourdough, and seaweed as four foods that can help fuel the good bacteria in your gut. And in terms of lifestyle factors, think things like limiting stress and getting sufficient movement4 for keeping your gut happy.

If Halloween candy has your gut in shambles, titanium dioxide, sugar, and/or dairy could all be to blame. The good news is when our guts have a break from these ingredients, and we feed the good bacteria in our gut instead, our stomachs are sure to thank us.