Almost all of us took gummy vitamins when we were kids, but why did we stop? Did they really make us any healthier back then? Would they provide any benefit for us now? I decided to find out! I took a variety of vitamins for a week and this is what happened.
Biotin
Uses: Supports hair and nail growth
Who doesn’t want their hair and nails to be a little stronger?! My nails have always fallen victim to breaking which always ruins my manicure. Enough was enough and I turned to Biotin for help! I must say, it has actually made a difference. The latter half of the week, not a single nail broke! I’ll definitely be consistent with this regime.
Vitamin B12
Uses: Supports the Energy Metabolism Processes
With the daily stressors of college life, it is easy to get run down and lose energy throughout the day. By 3 PM I always find myself wanting a nap and making another Starbucks run to jumpstart the second half of my day. B12 didn’t quite curb my caffeine addiction, but it did give me more energy at the gym! I wasn’t expecting to feel like going for an extra mile on the elliptical!
Calcium
Uses: Supports healthy bones
Okay, so the effects of calcium are hardly visible. This one was more of a “Mother Knows Best” tactic. Being lactose intolerant prevents me from getting the calcium that comes from drinking milk, but what collegiette fits milk into her daily diet anyway? Our bodies will thank us later for this one.
Vitamin C
Uses: Supports a healthy immune system
I originally wasn’t planning on including Vitamin C in my regimen but when I started feeling the signs of a cold coming on, I didn’t hesitate. Surprisingly, I do think it lessened the time I spent with a sore throat. Emergen-C is an alternative to the chewable pill if you aren’t a fan of the taste!
Melatonin
Uses: Sleep aid
I don’t have too much trouble sleeping usually, but the hot, dry air polluting our Bryant dorms does tend to make it difficult to fall asleep. I took one pill (3mg) about 20 minutes before getting into bed and found myself falling asleep pretty normally. What I did find was that it helped me to stay asleep! I only woke up during the night once or twice throughout the week! This was great considering it isn’t unusual for me to wake up once a night. I don’t think I’ll use it nightly, but it will come in handy for high-stress weeks when sleep is vital.
Be sure to check with your doctor and look into taking the recommended dosage before trying these or any vitamins!