It almost seems too good to be true: a tasty, chewy treat that can also give you the necessary vitamins and nutrients? Skipping the tablet you swear gets bigger each day? Starting your day with something so close to a piece of candy? Getting your children to willingly take, if not look forward to, their vitamins? That’s the power of a gummy vitamin—and it’s one that shouldn’t be underestimated.
Gummy vitamins aren’t just for kids, and they’re certainly not candy, despite the resemblance. And while, in a perfect world, every person would get the nutrients they need through a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables, that’s not always possible. In fact, the CDC has had to address widespread deficiencies with the International Micronutrient Malnutrition Prevention and Control (IMMPaCt) program, which focuses on iron, vitamin a, iodine, folate, zinc, and vitamin D deficiencies.
While gummy vitamins might not be a miracle cure for this issue, they’re a phenomenal step in the right direction. Gummy bear manufacturers have created a wide variety of flavors and formulas for adults and kids alike to make the habit of taking a daily vitamin an easier and more enjoyable part of your day.
Besides the obvious novelty, why would you want to choose a gummy vitamin over a traditional vitamin tablet? While there’s still room for groundbreaking clinical trials to further consider these benefits, a few stand out regardless:
Making healthy habits fun makes them more likely to stick.
As a rule, behaviors that seem difficult or otherwise unenjoyable are harder to keep up with, even when they need to be done regularly. When it comes to a standard pill-style vitamin, most people would agree that taking it is hardly a high point of their day-to-day lives. By making that same behavior a little more fun, the dreaded task becomes something to look forward to, even if it’s just one small, simple moment in your daily routine. When it comes to vitamins, there’s no contest: gummies are more fun!
Gummies are a quick & easy way to tackle deficiencies.
The nostalgia and novelty of gummy vitamins might make you more likely to take them but, in some cases, they’re the best option for other reasons. Many people can’t swallow pills, often due to previous negative experiences or a sense of anxiety. In these cases, particularly considering the large size of many multivitamins and other supplements, gummy vitamins are an easy way to combat deficiencies or just get your daily dose of nutrients without the anxiety or other struggle of trying to take a pill. Of course, personal preference is just as valid a reason to opt for gummies—if you find this format to be an easier method to take your vitamins, then who’s to say you shouldn’t?
Kids will be more likely to (safely) follow their parents.
While more and more adult formulations are being released, many people still associate gummy vitamins with children. There’s no question that they’re a great way to motivate kids to start and keep up with the healthy habit of taking a daily vitamin. But you might not have given much thought to an added safety benefit that comes from the growing availability of gummy vitamins for both children and adults. Children have been shown to practice over imitation on a nearly universal level—when both the child and adult take a gummy vitamin each day, the child will likely learn to mimic the habit.
Whether you are unable to swallow a standard pill, want to set an example for your son or daughter, or simply prefer the taste, fun, or convenience of taking a gummy vitamin, you’re sure to find a gummy or even a custom formulation that’s right for you.
