It’s the time of year when the immune system is depressed and common colds are at their highest, but you may want to think twice before taking an Emergen-C.
According tiktok For user Meghan Elinor, vitamin C blend may not be the best option to boost her immune system as it contains a lot of sugar.
‘Can someone tell me why today someone still recommends taking vitamin C immune packs that supposedly contain a thousand milligrams of vitamin C?’ she started the video.
‘There are real doctors who recommend this… okay?’ she questioned.
“If you turn around and read the ingredients, you’ll notice that there is six times the amount of sugar in each of these packets, compared to the amount of vitamin C,” the content creator continued.
“The vast majority of the type of vitamin C that is here will not actually be absorbed by the body or used properly,” she said indignantly.
“You’re literally going to be pissed.”
The content creator went on to criticize “quick fixes.”
According to TikTok user Meghan Elinor, the vitamin C mix may not be the best idea since it contains a lot of sugar.
“They say everyone should take this every day to boost their immunity, instead of eating healthy, exercising, and letting your body do what it’s supposed to do,” he ranted.
‘(Instead) they say, “Have some sugar water,” “Sugar water will make you feel better.”‘
“The amount of sugar compared to the actual benefits you’ll get from this: garbage,” he said. ‘Go eat whole, natural foods.’
A 9.1 gram package of Emergen-C has six grams of sugar, meaning approximately two-thirds of the package is made up of sugar.
Users flooded her video with comments, with many admitting they hadn’t realized the sugar content. Some, however, said they still planned to use Emergen-C.
‘I agree with you in everyday life, but when you are sick you need sugar to avoid dehydration. That’s why effective electrolytes contain sugar,” said one user.
‘OMG, I’ve been taking this every day for years. The good news is that I haven’t had a cold in three years, but I need to avoid sugar and try the sugar-free version,” wrote another.
“Those work when I feel sick,” another commented.
‘I’ve never seen it recommended every day. I take it if I start to feel bad. Works well in my experience,” someone else wrote.
A 9.1 gram package of Emergen-C has 6 grams of sugar, which means that approximately two-thirds of the package is made up of sugar.
According to GoodRX, the average dose of vitamin C for colds is 1,000 mg to 2,000 mg.
Users flooded his video with comments, many of them unaware of the sugar content.
In an email to the Daily Dot, a spokesperson for the company that owns Emergen-C, Haleon, said it also offers Emergen-C Zero Sugar.
“All Emergen-C products contain a combination of vitamins and minerals selected to support the immune system and help you feel well,” Haleon told the publication.
‘Emergen-C Immune+ Triple Action activates, supports and strengthens the immune system with BetaVia®, vitamin C, zinc and vitamin D and does not contain artificial sweeteners.
“People who prefer a sugar-free option can enjoy Emergen-C Zero Sugar available at major retailers like Amazon and Walmart.”
According Good RX, The average dose of vitamin C for colds is 1000 mg to 2000 mg.
“This is based on the range of doses from studies that looked at the safety and effectiveness of vitamin C for the treatment of colds,” the website states. “These are high doses of vitamin C and higher than the recommended daily intake.”
William Curry, MD, professor of medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said Health that the link between vitamin C and colds has been inconclusive.
“The research has not been of very high quality and the results have been mixed,” he said.
The National Institute of Health recommends that adults need a daily amount of 8 mg of zinc for adult women and 11 mg for adult men, and one package of Emergen-C only contains 2 mg of zinc.
You can get vitamin C naturally from broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cantaloupe, grapefruit, kiwi, oranges, red and green peppers, and strawberries.