The Sickly Sweet Truth: Too Much Gummy Vitamin Intake Complicates Your Kids’ Health

Gummy vitamins is our kid’s favorite on-the-go food to chew and help boost their energy as they face the day. Due to its delicious taste and cube-like shape, most kids often treat it as candies where they can pop it as they please. However, as good as these vitamins can be to boost your child’s health, you shouldn’t give them too much of it. Dr. Angela Lemond RD. recommends limiting your kid’s gummy vitamins intake before it complicates their health.

Your Kid Could Actually be Consuming More Calories and Sugar

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Lemond Nutrition and the spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Angela Lemond, RD, shared insights about the complications it can bring to a child’s health by consuming too many gummy vitamins.

Even if these gummy vitamins are packed with nutrients and, of course, vitamins, to help boost your kid’s health, most of them are processed commercially. According to Lemond, most gummy vitamins contain 7-8 calories per cube. Its calorie content is the same as regular gummy bears.

Not only that, but these GV also have an estimated 2 grams of sugar in it. This may seem not much if your kid only eats 1 gummy vitamin per day. Imagine stuffing 8-10 cubes in his or her mouth altogether? Your kid will be gaining an extra 20 grams of sugar and 80 calories in no time!

Your Kids Might Hit the Bathroom Frequently

Lemond also said that the sugar added on gummy vitamins isn’t ordinary sugar. In fact, it’s sugar alcohol. Unfortunately, this ingredient doesn’t sit well with our tummy. Many people (especially the kids) get diarrhea from sugar alcohol consumption.

This causes your kid to go into bathrooms frequently to discharge, which may interrupt his daily activities in class. Aside from that, your kid is at risk of dehydration too. If you don’t want your kid to suffer from diarrhea, it’s important to limit giving them gummies. Or if not, at least purchase natural gummy vitamins without the presence of mannitol, sorbitol, or xylitol ingredients as these names are the disguise of sugar alcohol.

Serious Side Effects

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Too much gummy vitamins consumption can cause an overdose of vitamins like A, D, E, and K, which could lead to poisoning.

We’ve heard from health experts about how we should load our body with vitamins and minerals to be healthy. However, Lemond says we should only be meeting the recommended and tolerable intake level of vitamins our body can take.

Aside from eating gummy vitamins, our kids also eat food, drink water and beverages, and even take supplements, which could cause a spike or unnatural levels of vitamins. If our nutrients and minerals are unbalanced, it could create dire side effects like diarrhea or vomiting. In severe cases, it can even lead to a liver failure. If you suspect you or your kid are overdosed on eating gummy vitamins, it’s recommended to seek medical attention immediately.

Dental Decay

Aside from sugar, most commercialized gummy vitamins are also loaded with artificial colors and flavors, and gelatin. Its sticky texture makes the sugar stick between and onto your teeth, making it susceptible to tooth decay. And since kids don’t brush their teeth well, chances are, they’re going to experience painful toothaches.

The Alternative: Vitamin Fortified Foods

Instead of relying on gummy vitamins to load your kids’ body with vitamins and nutrients, why don’t you work on preparing vitamin and nutrient-filled healthy food for your kids? For example, you can purchase a Peter Pan Plus peanut butter packed with vitamins A, B6, E, and minerals like copper, magnesium, and zinc.

You can pair it with whole wheat bread to get the extra vitamin D, calcium, and fiber your kid’s body needs. In this way, not only will your kid love eating a delicious sandwich, but it’s way healthier than just eating gummy vitamins too. Another way is to prepare cereal or oatmeal for your kids’ breakfast as they start their day. You can also add fresh fruits and a vitamin C drink to help boost their health.