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Gummies as multivitamins: The pros and cons you must know about

Gummy vitamins are gaining popularity. However, just like any other supplement, it has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
vitamin gummies
All you need to know about adding gummies to your daily routine! Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Dharini Krishnan Published: 9 Sep 2021, 06:00 pm IST
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Gummies are a point of attraction for all age groups. Colourful, varied flavours, and chewable, they are easy to consume and palatable for most of us. It’s mostly made from gelatin, corn starch, water, sugar, and some artificial colourings, which makes it look colourful. Most of the common and popular flavours include lemon, raspberry, cherry, and orange.

Over the last few years, gummies have become a source of prescribed multivitamin supplements. They have become an alternate source of multivitamins, as various vitamin tablets and syrups are not palatable for both children and adults.

Vitamins
Gummies can prove to be an excellent source of multivitamins. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Health benefits of gummies

Gummies have become the latest trend in wellness supplements. Most researchers suggest that practising a healthy and balanced diet will reduce the dependency on multivitamin supplements. Considering some people have difficulty in maintaining a balanced diet, multivitamin supplements are a good option. It is especially prevalent for people who find it hard to swallow pills or find the taste of syrups to be non-palatable.

Since the advent of Covid-19 last year, gummies have gained popularity in the beauty and wellness industry. Gummies are now used as a source of multivitamins, providing benefits for hair and skin regeneration. As the famous saying goes, anything in excess is harmful, hence, excessive vitamin consumption might also lead to various health problems.

vitamin
Having vitamin gummies can provide you with a boost of health! Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Potential risks of gummy vitamins

While gummies seem convenient, they have their own shortcomings and disadvantages:

Sugar content

Considering the high amount of sugar that is used to make gummies, it poses a large threat to consumers. Although sugar-free variants are available, replacing sugar with citric acid would be harmful to the enamel that guards your teeth.

Excessive consumption

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Gummies pose a serious threat to children, as they are addictive due to their high sugar content. It is important for parents to understand that there are no shortcuts to a healthy life. Besides, the massive dissemination of promos and advertisements increased consumer temptation, which may mislead parents to opt for gummies as a viable and healthy alternative to a nutritious diet. Hence, it’s important that children are given fresh fruits and vegetables that can provide them with nutrients in their development during formative years.

hidden sugar in foods
Factors like excessive sugar may be a downside to vitamin gummies. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Nutritional profile

Most studies have also pointed out that excessive sugar increases the chances of liver disease and some types of cancer. Sugar in high amounts can also lead to depression. Gummies are often loaded with fillers and artificial food dyes that are harmful to health but provide an appealing texture and taste.

Gummies lack certain important minerals which are very important for the growth and development of individuals. The gelatin in gummies can easily get stuck in your teeth and can cause cavities and other dental issues.

Currently, there is no substantial evidence that proves that gummy vitamins are a substitute for natural nutrients and vitamins. Food which is tasty is not always healthy, hence, there isn’t a substitute for a balanced diet, as it remains the best source to build stronger immunity, and promote overall health and wellness.

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About the Author

Dharini Krishnan is a consultant dietician in Chennai. ...Read More

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