You’ve probably heard about gummy vitamins and might want to find out if they will work for you or your family. Gummy vitamins are chewy treats that contain several vitamins, minerals, or nutrients. Like any health product, you must inform yourself of the contents and effects before you purchase it.
Usually, a balanced diet will provide a person with all the nutrients they need. But some people may struggle to get those nutrients through their meals. These include people who don’t eat certain foods, have increased nutritional needs, or struggle to absorb some nutrients. Fortunately, gummy vitamins can help in many cases.
What are Gummy Vitamins?
Gummy vitamins can come in a range of flavors, colors, and shapes. Flavors include lemon, raspberry, cherry, and orange. Usually, the food ingredients in gummy vitamins are gelatin, corn starch, water, sugar, and added colorings. Some people find it difficult to swallow pills, while others simply don’t like it. Gummy vitamins offer a chewy and flavorful alternative to bland pills. It’s why kids, in particular, find them more agreeable.
However, a single gummy may have 2–8 grams of sugar. So you must read the sugar content and work with what’s best for your situation. Due to their sugar content, taking too many gummy vitamins can be bad for your teeth if you don’t check the ingredients.
What are the Benefits?
According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, children above two years don’t consume enough vitamins A, D, C, E, choline, and potassium. Additionally, women between the ages of 19 and 50 don’t get enough iron or fiber in their diet. For these people and many others, they will need a supplement to get their daily nutritional needs.
Sometimes a meal doesn’t have the nutrients a person needs, for example, what a pregnant woman needs. Rather than overeating (which has its downsides), the person can simply take a supplement. Some diets call for the exclusion of certain foods. The exclusion may be for religious or lifestyle choices, but the result will be the same; nutrient deficiency, so they need a supplement.
Other people may simply be allergic or not have access to the food they require. Whatever the reason, a supplement is an affordable and straightforward solution that will give the user the nutrients they need. For example, those lacking foods like eggs, cheese, and yogurt in their diet may enjoy the benefits of a vitamin A gummy.
Gummy vitamins taste nice and are easy to consume. But users should be careful. That can lead a user to eat too many gummy vitamins; even nutrients can be detrimental when you over-consume them.
What Should You Look Out For?
There are a lot of companies that make claims about their vitamin products. To verify their authenticity, you should utilize the U.S. Pharmacopeial (USP), an independent, nonprofit organization. To verify a supplement, you can check the USPC database to determine its purity and ingredient list. You can also use Consumerlab and NSF International to verify supplements.
Whenever you buy a multivitamin, make sure that it has 100 percent of the daily value ingredients you need. But be aware that some nutrients like calcium, magnesium, and potassium can’t be at 100 percent, so you will need to get them from your diet. Also, some nutrients like vitamins A, D, E, and K can build up in your system, so don’t exceed 100 percent of the daily value, or it can be detrimental to your health.
Along with the major vitamins, your supplement should have micronutrients like:
- Thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin
- B6, B12, and folate
- Calcium, magnesium, selenium, and zinc
- Vitamins A (including beta carotene), E, and K
- Vitamin D2 or D3
Always consult your doctor about any health product, including vitamin supplements. A conversation with your doctor will reveal which nutrients are deficient and how much you need to consume daily. They can also advise you should you have any side effects of a low or high dose.
Enjoy the Benefits of Gummy Vitamins
Some people find it challenging to get their daily vitamin and mineral needs from their meals, so they need supplements to improve their health. Before you go out and look for one, make sure you consult with your doctor to understand your situation and the extent to which a supplement will help. As you look through the supplement options, make sure you verify the company and the ingredients list.