Iron Gummies: What Are the Benefits?
Iron supplements have been around for ages, but they’re not always the easiest to take. Indeed, many people have difficulties swallowing large pills or capsules, even if they take an iron supplement with a glass of water.
Iron gummies are much easier to swallow; not only can they be chewed, but they are often made with tasty flavors, so they go down much more readily. Many of the best iron gummies contain just as much supplementary iron as other top iron supplements.
Want to know whether iron gummies are the best choice for your iron deficiency needs? Let’s take a look at iron gummies in detail and break down their benefits.
Iron Gummies Explained
These days, there’s a supplement for almost everything… and that’s a good thing. Supplements like Hope Health’s Mind Capsules allow you to bolster your diet and overall wellness without having to add new food groups or spend a ton of shopping at the grocery store.
Iron gummies are essential iron supplements like iron tablets or capsules, but they are a little more palatable and easier to take. Instead of having to take a giant pill with a glass of water, and iron gummy can be chewed and swallowed in seconds any time you need.
Like other types of iron supplements, iron gummies are intended to supplement your dietary iron levels. Many people are minorly to moderately iron deficient because they don't eat enough iron-rich food in their diets.
That’s a big problem because iron deficiency can lead to several negative symptoms and side effects. With iron gummies, you can alleviate these symptoms and ensure that your body is as healthy as possible without majorly changing your diet.
However, you should also know that many multivitamins include enough iron to meet your daily recommended value for the mineral – you may not necessarily have to take an iron-specific supplement.
Symptoms of Low Iron
Iron is one of many essential minerals in the body. For starters, it’s one of the essential elements needed for blood production. About 70 percent of the iron in your body is found in your red blood cells (called hemoglobin). More iron is found in muscle cells called myoglobin.
In hemoglobin's case, iron is needed to transfer oxygen from the lungs into your blood cells.
However, iron is also needed to create proteins, is necessary for energy metabolism and respiration, and is also needed to synthesize neurotransmitters and a compound called collagen. Iron is a necessity, so your immune system functions properly.
But what if you don’t have enough iron in your body? In that case, you might experience symptoms like:
- Fatigue or long-term tiredness
- Shortness of breath
- A lot of difficulty concentrating
- Pale skin
- Heart palpitations
- A weakened immune system
- Itchiness
- Headaches, often with ringing or hissing sounds
- Hair loss
- Difficulty swallowing
- Open sores in the mouth
- Restless leg syndrome, characterized as an unconscious and sometimes uncontrollable urge to move your legs
Benefits of Iron Supplements
Iron gummies and other supplements usually only contain iron. The primary benefit they provide is replenishing iron levels in the blood or alleviating iron deficiency.
Once your low iron symptoms diminish, you’ll feel better, have more energy, and experience increased cognition and muscular control. More importantly, your body will be healthier overall, so you’ll feel better across the board.
Some iron gummies may also include botanicals or other organic ingredients to boost energy levels, add nutrition, or provide antioxidant support for your red blood cells. Antioxidants can lower the likelihood of cancer and prevent free radical molecular damage from affecting you.
Who Might Benefit From Iron Gummies?
In many cases, iron supplements or gummies may be prescribed by your doctor to treat the symptoms of iron deficiency or generally low iron levels after a blood test or other examinations. Iron gummies or tablets may be very effective since they can produce results faster than changing your diet by incorporating spinach or other leafy greens in your meals, for example.
However, your doctor will probably recommend changing your diet to include more natural iron over time. This will limit the need for iron gummies or other supplements over time.
Iron gummies can be particularly helpful for certain individuals prone to lower than average iron levels. These groups include:
- Pregnant women need more iron because their fetus is growing and taking some of their nutrients and food
- Infants and young children, who may not get enough iron from their diets
- Women who experience heavy periods. Bleeding diminishes higher levels throughout the body
- Frequent blood donors
- Individuals with heart failure
- Individuals who are taking iron depleting medications, including medications designed to reduce stomach acid
- Vegans or vegetarians
- Individuals with alcoholism
Although the above groups are those most likely to benefit from iron supplements, iron gummies can benefit everyone. Be sure to speak to your doctor if you are experiencing any of the low iron symptoms described above.
Can Iron Gummies Cause Side Effects?
Although iron gummies and similar supplements can be very beneficial, you should also be aware of the potential side effects. In most cases, iron supplements only cause side effects if you overdose on them (that is, you take too many gummies or tablets).
Iron supplements side effects can include:
- Vomiting or nausea
- Diarrhea
- Dark stools
- Constipation
In addition, pregnant women, among the groups most benefited by iron gummies, are more susceptible to constipation as a side effect of overdosing on iron.
That said, alleviating this symptom may be treated by adding extra fiber to your diet or taking a stool softener. In any case, if you take an iron supplement correctly, you most likely won’t have to worry about side effects.
Summary
All in all, iron gummies are the natural evolution of base iron supplements, which previously were only available in capsule or tablet form. You no longer have to swallow a large pill to get the iron you need to ensure long-term health. Now you can chew an easy-to-swallow gummy and alleviate your iron deficiency symptoms in no time!
If you want to know more about supplements, their effects, and which types of ingredients you should target for overall wellness, check out Hope Health’s blog.
Not only do we offer a variety of healthy gummies to boost cognition, assist with sleep, and help you calm down at the end of a long day, but we also offer additional educational resources for improving your focus, practicing healthy habits, and more.
Sources:
Iron & Oral Supplements for Anemia: Types & Benefits | Cleveland Clinic
Taking iron supplements | Medline Plus
Iron deficiency | Better Health