They have invaded the shelves of pharmacies and specialized shops. These little candy-like gummies contain, according to their manufacturers, vitamins and minerals essential for our health. They come in different categories: those to help slim down, to fight fatigue or fight against hair loss, the list is not exhaustive. We can also find some specially intended to prepare our skin for the sun. So, do these products really help to achieve the sublime tan claimed on the label claims? Answers with Anne-Marie Narboni, naturopath and author of Vitamins & Trace Elements PLN, Editions First 2022.
The gummies, these food supplements in the form of small gummy candies, are on the rise. According to a study conducted by Pharma Inside, they are the second best-selling dietary supplements on Amazon for the year 2021 in France. They have the same vocation as their “cousins” presented in the form of capsules or tablets, but the difference lies in the fact that they do not require water to be consumed.
And above all, their texture and fruity taste are very popular with confectionery lovers. Extracts of plants, vitamins, minerals, probiotics and other substances, they claim to respond to a multitude of problems: fatigue, hair loss, and preparation of the skin for the sun, among others. By biting into these little fruity candies, the manufacturers promise you a more uniform, more aesthetic, more durable tanas well as protection against the aggression of the sun’s rays.
So, true or false ? Before answering, it should be remembered that since 2012, the new European regulations require manufacturers to limit the health claims listed on the boxes of solar supplements. And more precisely all those evoking the protection of the skin against the effect of UV. “Solar gummies contain plant pigments, carotenoids, from the same chemical family as vitamin A. Scientific studies show that carotenoids have a very limited ability to protect the skin against the effects of solar radiation. Claims of skin protection with gummies are false,” says Anne Marie Narboni ND, MTC, President of the ICNM World Naturopathic Congress.
These solar gummies generally contain vegetable or fish oils, rich in essential fatty acids, such as omega-3 or omega-6. No scientific study has demonstrated their effectiveness in this context. Note that there are other food supplements (such as tanning pills) which promote the orange color of the skin, thanks to a brown pigment, the canthaxanthin. Be careful, because this pigment does not protect at all against the harmful effects of the sun, and its prolonged use can lead to pigment deposits in the retina, with visual disturbances.
Finally, a number of scientific studies have shown that these gummies should be taken with caution, especially by smokers. Beta-carotene supplementation has been linked to an increased risk of lung cancer in heavy smokers and in people exposed to asbestos. “We should add that the consumption of essential fatty acids in large quantities is not recommended for people on anticoagulant treatment, especially near surgery. So you really have to be careful before jumping on these products and checking your state of health, habits or medical constraints”, emphasizes the specialist.
Rather than resorting to these products, it is better to draw all the vitamins specially intended for a nice tan from the diet. On the one hand you will save money, and on the other hand, provided that the fruits and vegetables are organic, you will ingest the same vitamins, and not in chemical form, but natural. Before a stay in the sun, bet on blueberries with 50g, between 3 and 4 times a week, you will fill up with anti-oxidants. Perfect substances to fight against free radicals responsible for skin aging. Same for tomato or watermelon. You can also enjoy it 3 to 4 times a week. Finally, to fill up with natural beta-carotene which will help you obtain a nice uniform tan, make carrot, mango, sweet potato and apricot cures. With such a diet and sun protection with a protection factor of 50, you will avoid any risk of premature aging, and you will come back with a splendid look and a lasting tan.
Thanks to Anne-Marie Narboni naturopath – phytotherapist, president-founder of the World Congress of Naturopathy (ICNM) and co-founder of the World Federation of Naturopathy. Author of Vitamins & Trace elements PLN, Editions First 2022.
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