Elderberry gummies - are we just eating candy with vitamins?
OP here. I've been trying to boost my immunity with elderberry, but all the gummies I find are loaded with sugar and artificial stuff. 5g of sugar per serving? That's basically candy! I'm paleo and trying to avoid processed foods, but it feels like the supplement industry is just candy-fying everything for convenience. What happened to pure extracts or capsules?
I totally get where you're coming from, Quincy! Back in the day, my grandma would make elderberry syrup from scratch - just berries, honey, and water. It was a whole ritual. Now everything's in gummy form for kids (and let's be honest, adults who hate swallowing pills). But yeah, the sugar content worries me too. I miss when supplements felt more... authentic?
As someone working night shifts, I need convenience though! After a 12-hour shift, I'm exhausted. Remembering to take capsules is hard, but a gummy feels like a treat. I found one brand with only 2g sugar from fruit juice - not perfect but better. Maybe we need better options rather than ditching gummies entirely? What brands have you tried?
Don't forget the packaging waste! All those plastic bottles for gummies vs. a glass jar of syrup or refillable capsules. The candy-fication isn't just about ingredients - it's creating more single-use plastic. I make my own elderberry syrup and freeze it in silicone molds. Zero waste, no added junk. It's not that hard once you get the hang of it!
Holly - I get the convenience, I really do. But when did we decide that treating ourselves meant sugary supplements? Willow, you're right about the waste too. Tina, your grandma had it right! Maybe we should start a thread sharing DIY recipes. I'd rather spend 20 minutes making something pure than buy candy masquerading as health products.