WHAT ARE THE COMMON INGREDIENTS IN GUMMY SUPPLEMENTS?
Gummies usually contain a gelling agent, coating agent, colourings, flavourings and preservatives, said Jaclyn Reutens, a clinical and sports dietitian from Aptima Nutrition.
To achieve the chewy texture, a gelling agent such as starch, gelatin or pectin is used. Gelatin is usually derived from bovine collagen, while “pectin is a natural polysaccharide extracted from apples, and citrus fruits like oranges and lemons,” said Reutens. Choose according to your dietary preferences but if you have none, “pectin provides a firmer and less sticky bite compared to gelatin,” she said.
A coating agent with a high melting-point known as carnauba wax is often used to prevent the gummies from sticking together. “It is an edible, plant-based wax derived from a Brazilian palm leaf,” said Reutens. Sometimes, vegetable oil such as coconut, canola or sunflower oil is used instead as a cheaper alternative, she added.
And while you may deem natural colourings and flavours as better for you, they tend to “reduce the shelf life of the gummies because of their higher water content and lack of preservatives”, Reutens highlighted. Sodium benzoate or potassium sorbate are typically added to gummies to prevent microbial growth.
HOW MUCH SUGAR IS THERE IN GUMMY SUPPLEMENTS?
Sweetener is added to make gummies taste like a treat. But while the sweet stuff makes the supplement yummy, you may be concerned about its quantity and effects on health. And rightly so.
Unless indicated as sugar-free, as much as 30 per cent to 50 per cent of a gummy is sugar, according to PSS. A tablet or capsule, on the other hand, usually has no sugar at all, said the spokesperson. To further put this into perspective, a gummy can contain as much as 2g to 8g of sugar per serving. Your daily sugar limit? About 50g or 10 teaspoons.
