better health
Sweeties to get our vitamins sounds too good to be true. We weigh up the pros and cons of the supplements which have soared in popularity
You’ve probably seen the shiny, coloured, chewy treats on the shelves of supermarkets and health food stores – gummies infused with vitamins.
The trend has been dubbed “candyceuticals” and social media is awash with celebrities such as the Kardashians endorsing these sweet treats, which allegedly will do you good. It’s big business too. The global gummy supplement market is worth £5.7 billion and experts say the market is set to grow.
So, should we all be popping a daily gummy? It’s worth noting there is scepticism amongst many health experts. In a supplement analysis, ConsumerLab.com found that four out of five gummy products contained more or less than their listed amounts of ingredients, and that gummies were the most likely kind of supplement to fail testing. It’s believed the food additives, such as water and gelatine, erode the potency of the nutrients. Concerns have also been raised about additives and sugar.
However, gummies may have their uses. “In an ideal world, we would all be eating a good diet that supplied all our vitamin and nutritional needs,” says nutritionist Rob Hobson, author of Unprocess Your Life (£18.99 Harper Collins) Robhobson. co.uk.
“Gummies are a good option if you struggle to take supplements. This applies especially to children, older people or picky eaters. Gummies offer a more palatable delivery system. Getting children to eat oily fish can be tricky, for example. They might like to try Möller’s Omega 3 Jelly Fish Strawberry Gummies (£11.96 Healthspan.co.uk).”
Rob says there may also be some clinical benefits to gummies. “A recent US study has shown a there is better bio-availability of Vitamin D gummies than conventional tablets. The study suggested that when combined with saliva, the body absorbs the vitamins better than pills which are swallowed whole. There is also some evidence that when you take Vitamin B on your tongue, they become easier for the body to absorb.”
It is important to ensure the gummies are the best quality. “Look out for a product that is GMP tested,” he suggests. “Good manufacturing practice (GMP) describes the minimum standard that a medicines manufacturer must meet in their production processes. That will ensure that it contains what it says on the packet. They will have gone through a rigorous testing procedure to ensure that every gummy contains the right amount and is equally distributed within the gummy.”
A spoonful of sugar
But what about too much sugar? “Manufacturers have to put something in the gummies to make them taste sweet. Most gummy vita
