Are Snickers Bad For You?
Short answer
Unless you have a dairy or lactose allergy, a Snickers on occasion won’t hurt you, but be aware that they contain common allergens and saturated fats. If you have an existing heart condition or high cholesterol, you should avoid saturated fats.
Recommended Alternative
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
A regular Snickers bar contains 250 calories, 110 of which are from fat. One Snickers bar also has 23% of the daily value of saturated fats.
Snickers contain the following ingredients that can negatively affect your body: soy lecithin, partially hydrogenate soybean oil, dairy, sugar, and palm oil. They also contain some known common allergens including peanuts, eggs, dairy and soy.
Soy lecithin is extracted from the soy plant with the use of hexane. Hexane and soy are both common allergens. Consumed in large amounts soy and soy products have an estrogen-like effect on the body which can alter a woman menstrual cycle and cause other fertility issues.
Partially hydrogenated soybean oil - aside from carrying the problems associated with soy itself - is also a trans fat. High levels of trans fats in your diet can lead to heart disease, diabetes, fertility issues, degenerative diseases, and cancer. They also raise your LDL or bad cholesterol and can cause your body to less effectively use omega-3s.
Snickers contain dairy, lactose, and sugar which all act on the body in a way that can increase inflammation in the gut and immune system. When inflammation begins in the gut, the bacteria that lives there (which helps us digest and absorb nutrients) gets thrown off. Candida that naturally lives in the gut and other bad bacteria can begin to take over which effects the body as a whole in a number of ways. Dairy and lactose are also common allergies.
Palm oil is very high in saturated fats. This type of fat, although OK in moderate amounts, has been linked to chronic disease such as cardiovascular disease. Unfortunately, it is relatively hard to avoid palm oil as it is used in various candy bars, toothpaste and oh, yeah, sometimes it is just labeled as vegetable oil.
A positive ingredient, as long as you are not allergic to it, is peanuts. Peanuts are a monounsaturated fat (the healthy kind of fat) that works to protect your heart. Peanuts are also a good source of vitamin E, niacin and folate and they also count as protein! It’s not likely that the peanuts contained in Snickers are going to balance out all of the other bad ingredients, though. So, a handful of peanuts – good, peanuts in a Snickers – not as good.
Possible short-term side effects
- allergic reaction
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inflammation
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burst of energy, possibly followed by a sugar crash
Possible long-term side effects
- gut dysbiosis
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fertility issues
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changes in a woman’s menstrual cycle
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cardiovascular disease
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diabetes
Ingredients to be aware of
Our Wellness Pick
(what is this?)
Clif Bar Chocolate Brownie
- Organic oats included
- Non-GMO
- Plant-based energy
- Convenient snack
- Delicious brownie flavor
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Written by Kristin Brown, DC, MS
Published on: 07-02-2016
Last updated: 12-15-2023
Thank you for your feedback!
Written by Kristin Brown, DC, MS
Published on: 07-02-2016
Last updated: 12-15-2023
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