Should I take gummy vitamins?

Gummy vitamins are delicious and can be helpful for people with absorption problems, but they are high in sugar, can be toxic to children if eaten in excess, or have fewer nutrients than listed.

What are gummy vitamins?

Gummy vitamins are chewable vitamins that have the texture and taste of gummy candy. They come in a variety of flavors, colors, and shapes. These vitamins appeal to children as well as adults who may not like swallowing pills.

Gummy vitamins are typically made from gelatin, cornstarch, water, sugar, and added coloring. Popular flavors include lemon, raspberry, cherry, and orange. They may include several vitamins and minerals or just select nutrients, such as vitamin D and calcium.

You can buy gummy vitamins online and at most health food or supplement stores.

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Potential benefits

May provide beneficial nutrients

Because they contain so many nutrients, gummy vitamins may be beneficial for some groups of people. Many people take vitamins to ensure they are getting all the nutrients they need. While this is a common practice, research shows that most people who eat a balanced diet do not need to take a multivitamin.

Some people may benefit from this type of supplement, including those who do not eat certain foods, those who have difficulty absorbing certain nutrients. They may also be vegetarians, older adults, alcoholics, have health conditions that require increased nutrients, or are taking long-term medications that alter the ability to absorb nutrients. Gummy vitamins are also a good alternative to pills for pregnant women.

Delicious taste and easy to drink

Many people prefer gummy vitamins to regular pills because they come in fruit flavors. This is one reason why they appeal to children who are picky eaters. Additionally, gummy vitamins are easy to chew and can often be used by people who have difficulty swallowing pills.

Therefore, gummy vitamins can be easily added to the daily routine by both children and adults, consuming them more frequently than other multivitamins.

Potential risks

May contain added sugar, sugar alcohols or food colorings

The appealing taste of gummy vitamins often comes from added sugars. For example, one popular multivitamin for kids contains three types of added sugars, with 3 grams of sugar and 15 calories per gummy.

Consuming too much added sugar is linked to obesity, heart disease, and tooth decay. That's why the American Heart Association recommends no more than 9 teaspoons (37.5 grams) of added sugar per day for men and 6 teaspoons (35 grams) per day for women. For children ages 2 to 18, no more than 6 teaspoons per day.

While the amount of added sugar in gummy vitamins may not seem like much, it can contribute to increased sugar intake, especially if you take more than one gummy vitamin per day and eat other foods with added sugar.

To reduce the amount of added sugar in gummy vitamins, some manufacturers may add sugar alcohols instead. Even if a vitamin is labeled sugar-free, it may still contain sugar alcohols, which are listed as total carbohydrates on the label. Consuming too many sugar alcohols can lead to diarrhea, nausea, bloating, and other unwanted digestive symptoms in some people.

Finally, gummy vitamins may contain artificial food coloring. Although research is mixed, some studies link food coloring to behavioral problems in children.

May contain lesser amounts of nutrients than listed.

Gummy vitamins are considered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be foods, not drugs. This means that the ingredients may interact with medications. Therefore, you should always consult a healthcare professional before taking any vitamins.

Gummy vitamins may have fewer nutrients than consumers think. That's partly because manufacturers can't pack in as many vitamins and minerals when they have to add sugar, colorings, and other fillers to maintain the gummy texture.

Easy to overeat

Eating too many gummy vitamins can put you at risk of getting too much of certain nutrients, especially if you also eat foods that have been fortified with vitamins and minerals. This can lead to vitamin or mineral toxicity, which can be harmful to your body.

Consuming more than the recommended amounts of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K can be dangerous because they are stored in body fat and tissues.

This is especially concerning because young children may view gummy vitamins as candy and eat more than the recommended dose. Because children need lower amounts of nutrients than adults, they are more susceptible to vitamin and mineral toxicity. In fact, one study reported at least three cases of vitamin A toxicity due to children consuming too many gummy vitamins.

Should I take gummy vitamins?

For most people who eat a balanced diet, gummy vitamins are not necessary. However, taking them may be beneficial for certain groups of people, including those with nutrient deficiencies, absorption problems, or increased nutritional needs. Gummy vitamins may also be beneficial for children who are picky eaters and do not eat a balanced diet, as well as children who have difficulty swallowing pills.

However, it is important to protect children from eating too many gummy vitamins. Eating too many can lead to vitamin or mineral toxicity. With that in mind, it is best to keep gummies out of the reach of young children.

Source: https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/co-nen-dung-vitamin-dang-keo-deo-172250308102245726.htm