Gummy Vitamins Are Delicious, But Are They Good for You?
Gummy vitamins are tasty. You can’t argue with that. Can something that resembles candy really be good for you, though? Before jumping on the gummy bandwagon or dismissing them out of turn, you need to learn a bit more about the world of gummies. We’ve got it covered for you.
Why People Go with Gummy vitamins?
When you think of gummy vitamins, you probably think of kids. Offering gummy vitamins to children is an easy, tasty way to get them to take a daily vitamin to remain healthy. However, gummies aren’t just for kids, at least not any longer. The right kinds are beneficial for adults, as well. They’re particularly popular among adults who have a difficult time swallowing pills. As you likely know, some vitamin capsules and gel caps are enormous and hard to swallow. In contrast, gummy vitamins can be chewed up and swallowed with ease, which is an appealing bonus.
Watch the Added Sugar
By and large, gummy vitamins are absolutely good for you. After all, they contain vitamins, right? The problem can come down to the sugar content. Some gummy vitamins are coated in sugar, especially those marketed to children. Certain gummies for kids have up to 10% of the recommended sugar intake. However, even gummies for adults can contain extra sugar.
Don’t worry. That doesn’t mean that your favorite chews are bad for you or inherently unhealthy. You just have to be careful about what you buy. Diligently read the ingredients list on any gummy vitamins you’re considering to find out how much added sugar is in each one. There are plenty of brands with minimal sugar and some with no sugar at all.
Brush Away the Evidence
One way to ensure that the sugar content in your vitamins doesn’t do maximum damage is to keep up with your oral health and hygiene when you take your gummies. Taking your vitamins is part of your daily routine. You can add brushing your teeth and rinsing with mouthwash to that routine, too. After you nosh on your gummy vitamins in the morning, take a few extra moments to brush your teeth and rinse your mouth. That’s a good practice, anyway, since gummy vitamins can stick to your teeth.
Additives Are Not a Problem
Some people worry about the additives in gummy vitamins. In particular, they’re understandably concerned that any additives might make their chewy vitamins ineffective, or at least less effective than traditional capsules and tablets. It’s true that gummy vitamins have extra ingredients, but once you take a close look at them, you realize that there’s no cause for concern.
For instance, gummies are made using gelatin, which puts off some people even though it’s no different than what you find in your favorite Jell-O snack. As mentioned, gummies also contain extra sugar. It may come in the form of either glucose or a glucose-based syrup. That’s why you need to be careful about the vitamins you pick. Gummies typically contain safe food coloring, too, along with citric acid, which works to keep the gummies stable. Most of the additives in gummies—and in regular vitamins, as well—are “inactive,” especially after they go through chemical processing.
Look at the Vitamin Levels
It’s also smart to pay attention to the vitamin content of a gummy vitamin. Just because a gummy says that it’s chock full of vitamin C or the vitamins and minerals necessary for a morning boost, that doesn’t mean that you’re actually getting all the vitamins you need. Fortunately, you can look at the bottle or jar to determine the percent daily value of each vitamin. That’s important with multivitamin gummies, but it’s just as crucial for single-vitamin gummies, such as vitamin B gummies.
Healthy with a Caveat
The key point for you to take away here is that gummy vitamins are good for you. There are certain details that you have to watch out for, such as the sugar content and the vitamin levels, but all in all, gummies offer a fantastic way to get the vitamins you need for maximum health. That being said, it’s important to remember that gummy vitamins aren’t candy. You can’t take a bunch all at once simply because they taste good. If you do, then there’s a risk of vitamin overdose. At the very least, going hog wild may make you sick. Always follow the recommended dose.
It has to be said that gummy vitamins are good for your wallet, as well. They tend to be less expensive than traditional vitamins. Only you can decide on the right vitamin for you, though. Have you ever taken a gummy vitamin?