Gummy vitamins have quickly become a popular addition to vitamin and supplement aisles, offering a chewable alternative to pills. But do they live up to their claims?
Gummy vitamins often get their sweet flavor from sugar or sugar substitutes, which can increase daily sugar consumption and lead to obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and tooth decay. Some brands even contain citric acid which wears away at tooth enamel.
They’re easier to take
Gummy vitamins offer an alternative to multivitamins that come in pill, capsule, or tablet form; they may also be easier to swallow for children or adults who struggle to swallow pills. But like any product there can be advantages and disadvantages.
One major drawback to gummy vitamins is their high sugar content. Although the daily recommendation for added sugars is 17 teaspoons per day, many gummy vitamins contain several grams per serving – for instance pregnancy gummies may list “sugar” and “glucose syrup” among their first ingredients, while hair, skin and nails gummies could list both sugar and fructose among their second and third.
Gummies tend to disintegrate more rapidly than traditional tablets, diminishing their nutritional potency over time. Therefore, it’s essential that you choose high quality supplements with clearly listed ingredients which have been independently tested for purity and safety – such as products free from top nine allergens and gluten.
They’re more enjoyable
Gummies have long been touted as an enjoyable way to take vitamins. This makes them ideal for kids and adults who find swallowing pills difficult, need help staying on a healthy diet or simply prefer chewable supplements over pills.
Gummy vitamins typically contain between 2-8 grams of sugar per serving. Although this may not seem like much, when considered against the American Heart Association’s daily recommended allowance of 25 grams for women and 36 grams for men this could quickly add up.
Gummies tend to break down and lose their flavor more rapidly than traditional vitamin pills, making them less stable and sometimes providing less potency per dose than expected. When shopping for gummies it is important to ensure they contain the correct amount of nutrients listed on their labels, as well as read through any labels carefully to avoid unnecessary extra ingredients that may have been added for color, texture and taste purposes.
They help establish the “vitamin habit”
Gummy vitamins can make taking supplements part of a daily routine more easily, helping people remember to take them as prescribed and avoid skipping pills due to forgetfulness. Gummies also fill nutritional gaps – as most Americans don’t consume enough vitamins and minerals through food sources alone, supplements are crucial. Most gummy vitamins contain key vitamins A, C, D & E zinc calcium
Gummy vitamins do have one major drawback – their high sugar content. Although some brands use natural sweeteners, many contain added sugar in high quantities. Furthermore, some varieties even contain animal gelatin – an issue for vegan or kosher dieters.
Gummy vitamins should only be used as part of a well-rounded diet and not to replace other sources of nutrition, as overdosing on them could prove harmful and inhibit absorption of other essential minerals and vitamins by the body.
They fill in nutritional gaps
Many people struggle to eat a balanced diet and can benefit from taking gummy vitamins. Gummy vitamins can fill any nutritional gaps or supplement diet restrictions for pregnant women, young children or older adults.
But, gummies contain sugar which may pose health concerns for some individuals. Too much added sugar in one’s diet can contribute to obesity and other health conditions; therefore it’s essential that consumers read product labels to determine how much added sugar a specific gummy vitamin contains.
Some brands provide gummy vitamins that are lower in sugar, often using alternative sweeteners like erythritol or stevia for sweetness instead. These options may be helpful for those who need to restrict their sugar consumption. Nourished Essentials also offers customizable solutions with their quiz option that provides personalized gummy vitamin stacks tailored specifically to each consumer based on their specific needs. It’s free from 9 allergens as well as gluten.
