Gummies are a popular way to take supplements and vitamins of all varieties, but if you have lots of them at home, you need to make sure you store them safely, as you would medicine, says nutritionist Rob Hobson. “Make sure gummies are kept away from kids as these look like sweets and so can ebe very tempting,” he advises.
“Aside from consuming too many vitamins and minerals, which can be dangerous in high quantities, the type of sweeteners used in many of these products can have a laxative effect, meaning anyone who takes too many may find themselves running to the bathroom repeatedly.”
It might sound like gummies with sugar in might be a safer option to store, but while they do have their benefits – especially for children who may be hard to convince to take traditional vitamins pills, or who struggle to swallow them – they can cause a dilemma for parents wary of feeding their kids too much sugar.
Rob confirms that gummies are high in sugar: “While the chews ensure children get the right amount of key vitamins, the first ingredient in these supplements is normally sugar and it has been estimated that gummies can contain between 1g and 4g sugar per serving.”
Parents might be alarmed about excess sugar in their kids’ diets, but Rob has reassuring news. “If the rest of a child’s diet is healthy then I’d not be concerned given the health benefits of the supplement, but I would take them before eating so the sugar has less impact on their teeth.”
However, if you are concerned about sugar consumption, Rob reminds us that there are alternatives. “Gummies with artificial sweeteners may be a better option for parents who are concerned about the amount of sugar in their child’s diet. There is quite a lot of fuss made about artificial sweeteners but in small amounts in one gummy I would not be concerned – just make sure you store them away from little ones who might try to sneak more than the recommended daily allowance.”
There are dental health implications of gummies, too. Dr Catherine Tannahill, a dentist at PortmanDentex, says: “Providing vitamin gummies containing sugar is potentially going to damage children’s teeth. Sugar in any form causes tooth decay, especially when consumed between meals.
“Foods that are sticky and take some chewing can adhere to the teeth potentially for long periods of time and are therefore more likely to cause decay.”
If you are going to keep taking gummies, Dr Tannahill has recommendations about when to consume them. “If you or your child do take gummies then it is best to have them as part of a meal and to brush straight afterwards to reduce this risk. If you require a vitamin supplement, a sugar-free alternative could be a better option.”