Brien Shamp’s Boot Camps, Personal Training, Nutrition & Lifestyle Coaching
[email protected]
248a Harbor Dr
Belmont, CA 94002
www.BrienShamp.com
650-654-4604
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SCARY TRUTH ABOUT HALLOWEEN CANDY: IT’S A TRICKY TREAT
(BELMONT, CA October 27, 2011) – Whatever age you are, if you have a sweet tooth, Halloween is your kind of holiday. But before you start indulging in all those sugary treats, be aware of the consequences too much candy can have on your health and weight.
“A typical candy is high in sugar, dextrose, fructose corn syrup, as well as artificial color and flavor,” says Brien Shamp, a personal trainer at Brien Shamp’s Boot Camps, Personal Training, Nutrition & Lifestyle Coaching in Belmont, CA. “None of it is good for you because it is high in sugar (and sometimes fat) and calories but has virtually no nutrients.”
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that the average American consumes almost 26 pounds of candy each year – a large percentage of it around Halloween. Why is this bad? Because according to the USDA National Nutrient Database, just one piece of candy almost exceeds the USDA recommended daily values for empty-calorie foods and added sugar.
“If you add to this all the other junk food and drinks that many people consume on daily basis, it should not be a surprise to anyone that a high-calorie diet, whether from fat or sugar, will lead to weight gain,” Shamp notes. “And obesity carries its own set of risks, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes.”
Can you still enjoy Halloween without gorging on candy and other sweets? Absolutely, Shamp says.
“It’s all a matter of being creative and finding tasty snacks that will satisfy you, without piling on extra pounds or decaying your teeth,” he says. “For example, small boxes of raisins, pretzels, mixed nuts, or unsalted and unbuttered popcorn are all better choices.”
Still craving something sweet? Turn to dark chocolate, Shamp suggests. “Recent research shows it is rich in antioxidants – vitamins, minerals, and other substances that protect the body from harmful free radicals. Of course, you should not eat chocolate in excessive quantities – a single square is sufficient for health benefits,” he notes.
If, despite all these warnings, your willpower on Halloween is zero and you end up consuming lots of candy, get into the “damage control” mode as soon as possible.
“The next day eat light, drink a lot of water, and make sure to do some metabolism-boosting workouts,” Shamp advises. “Your trainer can show you exercises that will continue to burn fat and calories even after you finish your workout.”
While an occasional splurge will probably not hurt you, a Swedish study released last year showed that even a brief period of excess food consumption can have long term effects on body weight and fat storage.
“That’s why we should all be conscious of what we consume and how this impacts our health and weight,” Shamp says. “And that’s why it is so important to work out regularly and eat healthy on continuous basis – even on Halloween!”
About Brien Shamp’s Boot Camps, Personal Training, Nutrition & Lifestyle Coaching:
Launched by fitness expert Brien Shamp in 1996, Brien Shamp’s Boot Camps, Personal Training, Nutrition & Lifestyle Coaching is a co-ed personal training fitness program which specializes in the areas of weight loss, nutrition & lifestyle coaching and boot camps. Program details and client testimonials are available at www.BrienShamp.com. Shamp, a certified fitness expert with 21 years experience in the fitness industry, can be reached at [email protected] or 650-654-4604.
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About Brien Shamp, Fitness Expert:
Shamp is a certified fitness expert (Bachelors Degree in Biomechanics from UC Davis, Extensive Graduate Studies in Exercise Physiology, Reiki Practitoner (Level 2), CHEK Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach (Level 2), Advanced Metabolic Typing Advisor, Medical Massage Therpaist, Personal Trainer (ACSM), Strength & Conditioning Specialist (NSCA), USA Weightlifting Coach and Acu-Yoga) with 21 years of experience in the fitness industry. Shamp can be reached at [email protected] or 650-654-4604 and is available for media interviews on topics related to health, wellness and fitness.
