With so many options available, professional gamers and e-sports enthusiasts who have made health supplements a regular part of their wellness routine may find themselves in a dilemma on the best way to get their daily dose of nutrients.
While capsules and tablets remain to be the most popular delivery systems for high-quality gaming supplements, more novel formats have also entered the market. For instance, gummy vitamins — which were once primarily targeted towards children — have also entered the gaming supplement arena as a flavorful alternative to traditional pills and have become quite popular among the younger generation of gamers.
Some people like gummy vitamins because they taste like candy and are easier to swallow. However, serious gamers need to take their health seriously.
While it’s nice to chew on something that’s juicy and delectable, you have to ask yourself: Is it giving you the kind of brain power, quick reflexes, sustained energy, and stress response you need for optimal performance?
In choosing between capsules and gummies, there are several factors to consider. Like, which type of supplement does your body absorb better and faster? Does one have more nutritional value than the other? Are there added ingredients that pose potential health risks? What is easier to keep track of in terms of the recommended daily dosage?
Let’s dare to compare:
- Bio-Availability and Absorption Rate
Capsules have higher drug absorption and are faster acting.
Capsules contain nutrients in either liquid extract or dried powdered forms that are designed for proper absorption. Because they have higher biovailability, the nutrients they contain are more efficiently used by the body.
Similarly, capsules break down faster and are more likely to be absorbed more quickly as compared to gummies, which need to be digested because they also contain gelatin, starch, sugar and added flavors.
- Nutritional Value
Compared to capsules, gummies have less nutritional value and are prone to degrade over time.
Studies have shown that most gummies may not contain the exact amount of nutrients that are listed on the label. In fact, experts say that it is difficult to know for sure how much nutritional value you’re getting from gummy supplements because gummies have limited shelf stability and tend to become less potent over time. Chances are, by the time you eat your gummy, its nutritional content may have already degraded.
In this respect, traditional supplements like capsules are more reliable because when kept under prescribed conditions, they retain optimal strength up until their expiration date.
- Potential Health Risks
You don’t need the extra sugar.
The reason why gummies are enticingly sweet is simply because they are. Loaded with sugar, that is. Gummy vitamins and supplements deliver 2-8 grams of sugar per serving — which is a lot, considering that the daily recommended allotment is no more than 25 grams for women and no more than 36 grams for men.
Elevated sugar levels are known to lead to serious health issues such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, certain types of cancer and liver disease, and other chronic conditions. As with other sweets, the added sugar in gummy supplements can also lead to tooth decay or cause gastrointestinal problems. In some cases, depression has also been linked to high sugar intake.
Because they are not chewable and are designed to be swallowed, capsules are generally lower in sugar and other additives that enhance flavor and texture.
- Daily Dosage
If you have a hectic lifestyle and are always on the go, taking capsules three times a day would seem like a chore, right? But on the upside, capsules come in clear dosages and there is less possibility of vitamin overdose.
Gummy vitamins and supplements are appealing, just like candy, loaded with artificial food dyes, flavors, fillers and other ingredients that make them yummy to the palate. And because they often look and taste like candy, it can also be tempting to take more than the recommended daily prescription.
Bear in mind that no matter how cute and harmless they seem, an overconsumption of gummy supplements can still cause serious health problems and lead to vitamin toxicity, whose symptoms include fatigue, digestive problems, trouble sleeping, and in some cases, even hair loss and nerve damage.
On the other hand, capsules are pretty straightforward, with clear-cut dosages and are more likely to be taken as intended.
If you’re a serious gamer, it’s time to leave candy to the kids. Go for high-quality supplements that work hard and fast, and are packed with a powerhouse of natural ingredients that are designed to fuel your energy and drive your performance to a whole new level.
Because winning simply tastes better.
