Erin Stokes, Naturopathic Doctor, MegaFood Medical Director | May 2018

Can Taking Supplements Be Fun?

Let’s face it. It’s not always fun to take supplements. You might be consistent about taking them because you feel the difference they make in your daily life. But the actual act of taking them is not something that usually brings you a whole lot of joy in the moment. Enter gummies!

...It turns out adults really like gummies, as much as (and maybe even more!) than kids do. Consequently, adult gummies have gained a lot of popularity in recent years. They are enjoyable to eat, and it’s a moment in your day that brings you joy. The fact is, people don’t usually forget to take their gummies, so there’s the benefit of built in consistency. I’ll admit that with all of the supplements I take, I was tempted to try a gummy vitamin when they first arrived on the supplement scene, but I didn’t. Why? The problem I originally had with gummies was the sugar content. A surprising amount of sugar can be packed into a typical gummy. Like many people, I try to reduce sugar in my diet, and the last thing I wanted to add into my daily routine was a lot of extra sugar in a gummy.

A Better Gummy

Fortunately, it turns out that there’s a better choice. And, as is often the case with getting to a better choice, the path to get there is not usually the easy path. At MegaFood, we decided the path to making a better gummy meant consulting with the people we trust implicitly - our very own beloved customers. We wanted to co-create gummies by asking our customers to help inform us every step of the way. Fact is, it’s not easy to make a gummy with real food from farm partners. However for MegaFood, it was the only way to do it. And it was equally important to our team of co-creators that our gummies were low in sugar. (Low, as in 2 grams or less of sugar per serving!). A few of the other “must-haves” included a plant based gummy with absolutely no animal products, certified organic, Non-GMO and truly unique flavors like ginger and cranberry. Also important to note is our “must not have” list - NO high fructose corn syrup or glucose, sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners, gelatin, gluten, soy or dairy.

Meet the Gummies

Let’s dive into each of the formulations that resulted!

B12 Energy Ginger

Let’s start with my favorite! This gummy is for true ginger lovers and is receiving accolades everywhere. (Notably, the B12 Energy Ginger Gummy was recently awarded New Hope Network 2018 Expo West NEXTY Award for “Best New Supplement Delivery Format”.) The ginger from Kauai Organic Farms in Hawaii gives this gummy a delicious and unique flavor. 2 gummies per day delivers 24 mcg of methylated B12, which helps support cellular energy in the body.*

B12 Energy Cranberry

For those people who want the same amount of methylated B12 with a different flavor profile, Wisconsin cranberries from James Lake Farms gives these gummies a sweetly tart taste.

D3 Wellness

According to the CDC’s (Center for Disease Control) 2nd National Report on Biochemical Indicators of Diet and Nutrition in the U.S. Population, 90 million Americans are either deficient or insufficient in Vitamin D3! This gummy recipe combines Florida oranges, Quebec blueberries, tangy Wisconsin cranberries and ginger to make getting that additional Vitamin D a mouthwatering experience. Each serving provides 1000 IU (25 mcg) of cholecalciferol (D3) to support bone, muscle and immune health.*

C Defense

You’ll immediately taste the tangy citrus imparted from the farm-fresh oranges in C Defense. Each serving provides 180 mg of vitamin C to help support immune health.* Organic berries and ginger round out the formula to provide additional antioxidant compounds.*

One Step Closer - Solving A Nutritional Crisis

From the point of view of improving lives, there is great value for supplements being in a delivery form that people enjoy, because of the real need to fill gaps in the diet. Food is always first, and fresh whole foods are undoubtedly the best place to get our nutrients. However, data from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) shows that nutrient deficiencies are common in the United States, specifically deficiencies in certain nutrients such as Vitamin D, Vitamin C, and Vitamin B12.

At MegaFood, we are committed to nourishing a world in nutritional crisis, so making a better gummy vitamin for these key nutrients seemed like an excellent step in that direction.

* This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.