Gummy Vitamins: Not Just for Kids Anymore

Even though I follow my FoodTrients program for its anti-aging benefits, I know that vitamin supplements are an important part of aging gracefully. I take 20-plus vitamins and supplements a day, most of which are in capsule form. But for me, they’re not so easy to swallow. I need to drink them with water. Some friends of mine hide their pills in a piece of banana or a spoonful of apple sauce for easy downing. By the end of the day, I’m tired of pills getting stuck in my throat or drinking so much water! It’s tempting to skip some doses because swallowing them is so unpleasant.

About six months ago I learned that I should let the capsules partially dissolve in my mouth before sending them to my stomach because they might not fully dissolve in stomach acid. If this happens, those vitamins and nutrients won’t be absorbed before heading into the digestive tract. That’s just another reason I think the new trend of gummy vitamins and supplements is a good one.

Taking gummy vitamins is as pleasant as eating candy. They’re easy to chew and often contain the same dosing of vitamins as a pill. There are even sugar-free versions of gummy vitamins these days—an important benefit for those who need to watch their sugar intake.

Here are some products currently on the market that offer gummy alternatives to the standard vitamin pill:

Hero Nutritionals makes a line of gummy vitamins for children called Yummy Bears and a line for adults called Slice of Life. The Slice of Life flavors and textures are quite nice. Hero offers a wide range of vitamin options including vitamin D3—a new form of vitamin D that is easily absorbed and aids in calcium uptake; the enzyme supplement CoQ10; and vitamin C with pomegranate. Some of the gummy vitamins are organic and some come in sugar-free form. Vegetarians have an option made specifically for them without gelatin that tastes like fruit chews.

Northwest Natural Products formulates gummy vitamins for children called L’il Critters and for women, men, and seniors called Vitafusion. Their full line of gummy vitamin products range from general multivitamins to specific, highly targeted formulas, such as the Daily Vision gummy, which includes lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamins A, C, E, B6 & B12, and the Daily Immune gummy with an elderberry flavor. There is even an Omega-3 formulation.

Nutrition Now produces a multivitamin gummy with vitamins A, C, D, E, B6, B12, biotin, pantothenic acid, chromium, molybdenum, choline, inositol, lutein, and boron. The bottle contains berry-, peach-, and orange-flavored gummies. They also make single vitamin gummies (D, E, C), a men’s formula, a women’s formula, a prenatal mix, a 50+ formula, and an elderberry antioxidant mix. They even make fiber gummies, calcium gummies, B-complex gummies, and CoQ10 gummies.

One A Day a company that’s been producing vitamin supplements for decades—has embraced gummies as well, formulating a line called Vita Craves for adults. The Regular version contains vitamins A, C, E, B6, B12, folic acid, and pantothenic acid. They also have a women’s formulation, a men’s formulation, and an Omega-3 DHA gummy. There’s even a sour version of the Regular formula with sour apple, sour cherry, and sour blue raspberry flavors all in one bottle.

Just remember: gummy vitamins might taste yummy, but they really aren’t candy, so be sure to take only the recommended dosage and keep them out of the reach of children. Gummy vitamins tend not to contain many minerals, so they may not be a perfect substitute for a multivitamin, or you may need to take additional mineral supplements. Check the labels to look for minerals you might need, like calcium, selenium, iron, or magnesium.

It’s always a good idea to consult with your doctor when making dietary or supplement choices. And doctors will agree: supplements are not replacements for a well-balanced diet of healthy and nutritious foods—like the FoodTrients plan. Find the balance that’s right for you.