A pharmacist has recently shared insights into three supplements she advises against, noting that many may be surprised by her choices.
In 2024, a health craze seems to have swept through, with people embracing running, stocking up on greens powders, and striving to achieve peak health, often as a balance to weekend indulgences.
If you’re diligently consuming certain supplements each day, thinking you’re enhancing your health, you might be surprised to learn that three popular types might not be as beneficial as presumed.
Amina, a pharmacist who shares advice on TikTok, posted a video earlier this year discussing the ‘three supplements’ she would avoid as a professional.
First on her list to avoid? The much-loved ‘gummy vitamins’ or ‘gummy bears’.
Amina clarifies: “These are basically just a sugar pill, you might as well just go and have a sweet. They are packed with sugar and filler ingredients.”
Furthermore, Amina cautions that gummies can be ‘very easily’ ‘over consumed’, potentially leading to ‘mineral toxicity’ in severe cases.
Moreover, she notes that ‘some of these gummies don’t even have enough nutrients in them to even have an effect on you.’
It’s advised to overlook the appealing marketing, attractive packaging, and pleasant flavors, and to skip the gummies altogether.
Next on the list? ‘General multivitamins’.
You might assume these provide all necessary nutrients in one pill, but Amina points out that while they contain ‘a bit of everything’, the ‘doses of each nutrient are so low they hardly have an effect in you’.
Despite their affordability, Amina is not a fan of general multivitamins.
Finally, the ‘skin, hair and nails multivitamins’ tablets also make the list.
Amina questions their focus: “What do these focus on? Hair, skin or nails? They’re not solution-focused. The most important vitamins in these are often too low to even have an effect on you,” she says.
What does she suggest instead?
@aminathepharmacist When you think your £1.50 multivitamin or vimto flavoured gummies work? 🙃 ➡️ Traditional capsules and tablets are the best. If you can’t swallow any of these, you can take the powder out of the capsule or crush the tablet and mix with food/drink. ➡️ Solution focused supplements is what you need to see real results. Best to focus on ingredients that help the actual issue. ➡️ For children, use liquids or spray supplements. ✨ My 2x award-winning Hormone Balance supplements restock is soon. Make sure to sign up to the wait list to be notified instantly – link in bio 💊 #pharmacist #pharmacy #gummybear #gummyvitamins #supplements #needtoknow #vitamins
Amina recommends: “Traditional capsules and tablets are the best. If you can’t swallow any of these, you can take the powder out of the capsule or crush the tablet and mix with food/drink.”
For even more effective results, she suggests: “Solution-focused supplements are what you need to see real results. Best to concentrate on ingredients that address the actual issue,” she advises.
For those with fussy children, liquid or spray supplements are also an option.
Time to reconsider those flavored gummies in the cabinet.