Gummy vitamins are delicious treats with healthy benefits for our bodies – but not all formulas offer equal nutritional support.
Children typically require less vitamin C than adults due to having lower nutritional requirements, while their sugar consumption tends to be greater due to having fewer calories to burn off than adults. As such, gummy vitamins targeted towards children tend to contain less vitamin C and more sugar.
Convenience
Gummy vitamins provide a convenient way to take vitamins and supplements, particularly for people who find swallowing pills difficult. Plus, their taste is usually more appealing than tablets and they’re easier to chew; therefore, these gummies are popular with children as well as adults alike.
However, they’re not without drawbacks. Since many gummy vitamin products contain added sugars like sugar, erythritol, mannitol and isomalt for flavoring purposes – as well as to make chewable products chewable – these sugars may contribute to tooth decay over time.
Additionally, overconsumption of gummy vitamins can result in excess intakes of nutrients such as vitamin A and D, potentially leading to toxicities that can result in overdosage. To avoid this from happening it’s essential that you adhere to the recommended doses on each bottle; if you follow a gluten-free diet make sure you choose certified gluten free varieties*
Sugar
Gummy vitamins often taste sweet, which appeals to children as well as adults alike. Their delicious sweetness comes from sugars and other ingredients used to maintain soft and chewable textures; this may increase calories slightly.
Some gummy vitamin manufacturers provide different formulations of their vitamins for children and adults to specifically meet any nutritional support requirements they might have. This allows them to target groups who might benefit from additional nutrition assistance.
As separate formulas require separate product labels, gummy vitamin manufacturers must carefully craft their labels. Each should make clear that one gummy vitamin is the recommended serving size and that excess consumption may lead to vitamin or mineral toxicity, as well as clearly state any ingredients linked with allergies and provide contact numbers should any questions or issues arise. This provides parents and caregivers with confidence when purchasing products for their children while simultaneously decreasing risk of accidental overdose.
Calories
Gummy vitamins offer an alternative to traditional tablets as they contain fewer calories and are easier to chew and swallow for children and adults who struggle to take pills.
Gummy vitamins still contain sugar and should be consumed sparingly as too much added sugar has been linked with obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Consuming too many gummy vitamins may result in vitamin toxicity, leading to uncomfortable side effects such as nausea, headache, stomach upset and skin rashes – this may prove particularly problematic among children who consume more than the recommended dosage.
H-E-B’s Gummy Multivitamins provide an easy way to obtain essential daily nutrients. Each two-gummy serving provides as much vitamin A as one cup of broccoli, one tangerine worth of vitamin C and five ounces of salmon in terms of Vitamin D – all without gluten, dairy or artificial flavors!
Taste
Gummy vitamins owe their sweetness to added sugars, which could present a problem for individuals trying to reduce their daily sugar consumption. According to the American Heart Association’s recommendations of no more than 25 grams for women and 36 for men per day of added sugar consumption; although many products labeled “sugar-free” contain citric acid instead of sugar which could wear down tooth enamel over time.
Gummy vitamins contain ingredients designed to make them taste sweet, which also cover up some bitter-tasting nutrients such as iron and zinc. Manufacturers add flavorings in order to make these vitamins and minerals more palatable.
Take note that gummy vitamins may not be as strong as traditional pills or capsules; thus it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s directions when taking them. Also keep in mind that there may be multiple ingredients present within one package so if you are following a special diet be sure to read labels thoroughly.
