The worst thing about Halloween is, of course, candy corn. It's unbelievable to me. Candy corn is the only candy in the history of America that's never been advertised. And there's a reason. All of the candy corn that was ever made was made in 1911. And so, since nobody eats that stuff, every year there's a ton of it left over - Lewis Black

Right about now most adults are doing the mad dash to throw together a costume for their kids that doesn’t look like they forgot, and purchasing massive amounts of candy to ensure that they are not victims of the dreaded “trick”

Yes, the threat of the trick makes it ok for small children to act like the local mafia and extort neighborhood adults one night a year. I call this the great candy shake down, and what it boils down to is that we adults pay “insurance” to the neighborhood kids to make sure we do not wake up to a yard full of toilet paper snow, shaving cream filled mail boxes, smashed pumpkins, or flaming bags of recycled dog food.

But it’s ok; we get our revenge through the candy we offer in exchange for protection. We know that candy isn’t exactly good for us, but have you ever thought about what eating so much of it does to a child’s small body? I have, and what I found is scarier than any trick these kids can come up with.

Within 10 minutes of eating a piece of candy the sugar hits their system like a freight train.

Within 20 minutes their blood sugar levels spike and the pancreas will increase its insulin production in order to metabolize the sugar and turn it into fat.

Within 40 minutes their pupils dilate, their blood pressure rises, and their livers pump more sugar into their bloodstream. This blocks the adenosine receptors in their teeny tiny brains, which prevents drowsiness and may cause hyperactivity.

Within 45 minutes dopamine production increases which stimulates the pleasure centers in their brains. This is the same physical response someone would get after using heroin. (So on Halloween, you become the neighborhood dealer turning children into candy junkies.)

Within 60 minutes, if the kids are eating chocolate, the caffeine will cause them to urinate more frequently. This robs their bodies of important nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, and zinc, as well as sodium, electrolytes, and water. Not to mention the fact that if they are not near a bathroom, or if they are wearing a costume that is difficult to remove, they may have another issue…

After 1 hour they’ll start to “crash” as the effects of the sugar begin to wear off. They’ll become irritable and sluggish, which increases the body’s desire to repeat the sugar-consumption cycle.

Eat candy. Crash. Repeat. So, this is what I mean by revenge. All of the candy we pay for “protection” may contribute to a lifetime of chronic health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, hypoglycemia, gallstones, tooth decay and gum disease. That’ll teach those little beggars.

Stacy Matson, a health enthusiast from Southern California, regularly blogs on Celebrity Health for A Healthier World, as well as contributing to the Best of the Best.