GEM Vitamins Review 2024: Are These Bite-Sized Supplements for You?

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Eating your vitamins is often easier said than done. If you have a tough time getting your nutrients through food, or you simply don’t have time to meal prep and plan out your daily vitamin intake, a high-quality multivitamin can be your best friend. You may even be searching for something specific to add to your health routine, such as dietary supplements to support your sleep, immune health or energy levels.

Still, anyone who has taken vitamins in capsule form knows that they aren’t always the easiest to swallow—and many vitamin chews don’t exactly have the best taste or texture. GEM Vitamins aims to shake up your supplement routine by offering vitamin bites that resemble a bite-sized baked good—rather than a standard capsule or gummy vitamin—and help fill nutritional gaps. Currently, the brand carries a “Daily Essential” multivitamin, a “Sleep Booster” supplement and a “Calm Booster” supplement.

If you’ve heard of this whole-food based vitamin company, you still may be wondering what exactly their vitamin bites are made out of? And do customers actually enjoy their taste and experience health benefits? Our in-depth GEM Vitamins review will answer these questions and more as we explore whether these vitamins are worth trying in 2024.

This content is meant to be informative, but should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention or treatment of health problems. Always speak with your doctor before starting any new supplement or exercise regimen.

GEM Vitamins At a Glance

• Made with whole-food ingredients
• Include prebiotics and probiotics
• Non-GMO and organic ingredients
• Plant-based and gluten-free
• SI Showcase readers get 30% off with the code: SHOWCASE30

GEM Vitamin Products

• GEM Daily Essentials
• GEM Sleep Booster
• GEM Calm Booster

GEM Daily Essentials

Key features and specs:

• Percent of daily value: 130 percent vitamin D, 35 percent vitamin E, 30 percent vitamin B6, 60 percent vitamin B12, 100 percent folate, 40 percent zinc and 100 percent biotin
• Form: Chewable
• Servings per container: 28 (4 packs of 7)
• Certifications: Non-GMO, organic, gluten-free, soy-free, vegan and free of added sugar, artificial colors, binders and fillers
• Subscription: Monthly
• Price per serving: $1.96
• Best for: Immune support and nutrient support for strong hair, skin and nails

GEM Vitamins’ best-seller is its Daily Essentials Citrus Ginger, a multivitamin made out of real-food ingredients. These vitamin bites pack in 100 percent of the daily recommended value of several key nutrients and, of course, have a citrus ginger taste. (If you’ve tried protein bites before, GEM Vitamin bites have a similar snack-like look and feel. The brand actually works with an in-house pastry chef to ensure the bites taste more like treats, and less like your average vitamin.)

Each once-daily chewable delivers the following daily values: 130 percent of vitamin D, 35 percent of vitamin E and 60 percent of vitamin B12, among others. You’ll also get the full daily recommended value of folate, which supports healthy blood pressure and brain health, plus biotin, which supports energy levels and is needed for strong hair, skin and nails.

“Specific ingredients like vitamin D3 and K2 are essential for bone health and calcium absorption,” says Trista Best, MPH, RD, LD. “The product contains 25.7 micrograms of vitamin D, which is a reasonable amount to support bone health and overall well-being, particularly for individuals with insufficient sun exposure.”

In addition, each GEM bite has two billion colony-forming units (CFUs) of probiotics to support gut health (an effective dose, according to the National Institutes of Health) and 250 milligrams of curcumin, or a compound found in turmeric, that’s widely hailed for its anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting benefits. So, what’s exactly inside each bite in terms of ingredients?

Delivering the micronutrients are a wide range of whole foods that include dried oranges, quinoa sprouts, gluten-free oats, coconut, BioPerine (or black pepper extract, which has been shown to increase nutrient absorption), chickpeas and pumpkin seeds, for starters. In fact, the pumpkin seeds are actually visible in the vitamin chews. Like all GEM bites, Daily Essentials Citrus Ginger are vegan and entirely plant-based, allowing them to accommodate a range of dietary needs and lifestyles.

Still, this wellness multivitamin is missing a few key micronutrients. For example, it delivers zero percent of the daily recommended value of calcium and doesn’t pack in vitamin A or vitamin C, so if you’re deficient in those particular nutrients, you may want to consider a different product. That being said, many GEM Vitamin reviews note that customers have experienced a range of health benefits from daily vitamin use, including better energy levels and reduced constipation.

What we like:

• Delivers partial daily recommended value of key B vitamins
• Includes probiotics for gut support and regulation
• Plant-based and free of animal products
• Refreshing citrus ginger taste

What to consider:

• Missing calcium and vitamins A and C
• Expensive per serving
• Not third-party tested

GEM Sleep Essentials In-Depth Review

Key features and specs:

• Percent of daily value: 35 percent vitamin E and 50 percent magnesium
• Form: Chewable
• Servings per container: 28 (4 packs of 7)
• Certifications: Non-GMO, organic, gluten-free, soy-free, vegan, and free of added sugar, artificial colors, binders and fillers
• Subscription: Monthly
• Price per serving: $1.96
• Best for: Sleep and mood

While many prescription sleeping pills may come with unwanted side effects, GEM Vitamins promises a holistic, non-habit-forming alternative with their Sleep Essentials vitamin chew. Sleep Booster Chocolate Cherry is a once-daily chewable meant to be taken before bed that claims to support both sleep and mood, plus restorative health for overall wellbeing.

Each serving of Sleep Essentials offers 35 percent of the daily recommended value of vitamin E, which studies show can alleviate chronic insomnia and improve sleep quality. It also delivers 50 percent of the daily recommended value of magnesium, which is widely regarded for its calming properties and sleep benefits that include less time falling asleep and improved quality of sleep.

Real-food ingredients in GEM Sleep Essentials include: 

• dried tart cherries, which studies have found help regulate sleep
• pumpkin seeds, a natural source of tryptophan, an amino acid that can promote drowsiness (turkey, for example, is also high in tryptophan, which is why you may feel very sleepy after a Thanksgiving dinner)
• dates, which a study published in Contemporary Clinical Trials found help to boost mental health on a general level. 

In addition, you’ll find valerian root extract, GABA and l-theanine, all of which may help induce sleep.

“Magnesium is known to play a role in promoting relaxation and sleep quality,” Best says of the other ingredients. “The product contains 215 milligrams of magnesium, however, individual magnesium needs may vary.” In general, leading health organizations tout 200 milligrams of magnesium to be effective for sleep, and GEM Sleep meets that dosage and then some.

While this particular GEM Vitamins chew doesn’t deliver a wide range of micronutrients (like the Daily Essentials vitamin), many customers give the all-natural sleep supplement a 5/5-star review. Some buyers say taking this chewable has allowed them to quit sleeping pills, while others claim waking up feeling refreshed and well-rested.

What we like:

• Natural alternative to prescription sleep aids
• Non-habit forming
• Includes magnesium, a proven sleep-promoter
• Formulated to support mood in addition to sleep

What to consider:

• May make you drowsy
• Not third-party tested

GEM Calm Essentials In-Depth Review

Key features and specs

• Percent of daily value: 35 percent vitamin E and 50 percent magnesium
• Form: Chewable
• Servings per container: 28 (4 packs of 7)
• Certifications: Non-GMO, organic, gluten-free, soy-free, vegan and free of added sugar, artificial colors, binders and fillers
• Subscription: Monthly
• Price per serving: $1.96
• Best for: Stress relief and focus

Whether your goal is to relieve stress, boost your clarity and focus, or regulate your overall mood, GEM Vitamins Calm Booster Banana Cinnamon aims to address each of these goals. This once-daily chewable contains 35 percent of the daily recommended value of vitamin E, plus 50 percent of the daily recommended value of the nutrient magnesium, which helps promote a sense of calm, according to a clinical trial published in Magnesium Research. “Magnesium is known for its potential role in stress reduction and relaxation,” Best says.

Inside each chew you can find whole food ingredients like dates, bananas, cacao nibs and lemon balm, the latter of which can alleviate symptoms of anxiety that contribute to high stress. There’s also 192 milligrams of golden chlorella in each bite, a superfood derived from chlorella algae that can promote relaxation, regulate your mood and even protect your brain. Plus, if an upset stomach or digestive issues are causing you stress, Chicory root fiber—one of the ingredients in GEM Calm—is a prebiotic fiber that can support digestive health, Best says.

While you won’t get much (if any) potassium, iron or calcium with this supplement, it offers natural stress relief that many customers say helps relax both their muscles and their brains. Plus, many dedicated GEM Vitamins users appreciate the freshness and convenience of the chewables. Other customers claim that it’s easier to remember to take these particular vitamin chews when compared to more traditional supplement capsules.

What we like:

• Includes evidence-backed ingredients to support mood
• Free of potentially harmful additives
• May be easier to take than capsules

What to consider:

• 28-day supply won’t cover full month
• Not third-party tested

Quality of Ingredients

When it comes to dietary supplements, quality of ingredients matters. Vitamin and mineral supplements are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but they aren't tested before being released to the market (like prescription medicine). That's why we recommend seeking out supplements that are third-party tested. GEM Vitamins don't list a third-party testing certification on their website, so there's no guarantee that the vitamins actually contain the ingredients and doses listed on the nutrition label.

On a positive note, GEM says their vitamins are free of synthetic fillers, and the ingredients are non-GMO, organic and sustainably sourced, which can help boost your confidence in ingredient quality. (Organic foods, for example, may contain higher levels of certain nutrients and lower levels of pesticides, which can boost the antioxidant properties and benefits of these ingredients.)

Who GEM Vitamins Are Best For

Best says GEM Vitamins can be an excellent choice for people with nutritional gaps, “particularly in vitamins and minerals." Convenience seekers are another good candidate for these chewables, as “GEM Vitamins come in a convenient format (bites) that can be easy to incorporate into a daily routine.” Here’s who else may benefit from GEM Vitamins:

• People who struggle to take dietary capsules
• People who are passionate about whole-foods diets
• People seeking out natural mood or sleep support
• Those who follow gluten-free or soy-free diets
• Vegans and vegetarians

Who GEM Vitamins Are Not Best For

If you’re diligent about meeting your nutritional needs through food, Best says GEM Vitamins won’t be of much help to you. “In such cases, a well-rounded diet may provide all the necessary nutrients,” she explains. Those with specific allergies should also be cautious. “For example, those allergic to sulfur dioxide should be wary of products containing dried apricots,” she adds.

Here’s who else might not benefit from them:

• People seeking out a multivitamin with calcium, vitamin A or vitamin C
• People looking for more budget-friendly vitamins
• People who are not interested in a monthly subscription

How Much Do GEM Vitamins Cost?

We consider GEM Vitamins to have a premium price point. A 28-day supply costs $55 per month, but you may be able to take advantage of a promo deal on your first order (at the time of this article, for example, GEM Vitamins offered 30% off your first month). That being said, shipping is free and your monthly subscription can be skipped or canceled anytime.

It’s important to keep in mind that pricier vitamins aren’t necessarily better or higher-quality. Instead, quality will depend on the amount of nutrients delivered per dose, whether the daily recommended value is met and how the supplement is formulated (this can include factors like artificial fillers and added sugar). Still, since GEM Vitamins are made from real-food ingredients and free of the potentially harmful additives mentioned above, they may be worth the high cost.

What Customers Are Saying About GEM Vitamins

Since GEM Vitamins are only sold directly on the brand website and mostly reviewed there, consumers have limited customer reviews to go off of (therefore, reviews should be taken with a grain of salt). However, most customer website reviews are overwhelmingly positive. Overall, GEM Vitamins have received a 4.88/5-star rating with almost 2,500 customers chiming in at the time of writing.

Customers report a number of health benefits depending on which GEM supplement they take. GEM Daily Essentials users, for example, say that the chewables are “easy on the stomach” and have helped tremendously with digestive issues. Others note an increase in energy and a great overall taste. Still, on the brand’s Better Business Bureau page, a handful of customers note issues with subscriptions, such as having trouble canceling and surprise charges.

While a few customers don’t care for the vitamins’ texture and note that it’s dry, and one or two GEM Sleep Essentials users say the chews help them fall (but not stay) asleep, most appreciate the unique spin on the classic vitamin pill format and notice less inflammation and fatigue.

About GEM Vitamins

GEM Vitamins was launched in 2018 by founder and CEO Sara Cullen, who wanted to design a real-food solution to dietary supplementation. “I believe our health deserves better,” Cullen writes on the brand’s About Us page, noting this influenced her to design nutrient-dense bites that are “whole, never refined and deeply nourishing.” While the U.S.-made GEM Vitamins aren’t third-party tested, they’re influenced by a group of scientific advisors that include medical doctors, neurology experts, registered dietitians, nutritionists, biochemists and herbalists.

GEM Vitamins vs. Care/Of Vitamins

Care/Of is a supplement brand that offers personalized vitamins based on your nutritional needs and preferences. Customers take a quiz that gauges their goals and values, which results in a personalized plan that the brand reports is backed by more than 1,200 referenced studies. You can choose between vitamin packs, bottles (similar to shots) and powders. While Care/Of vitamins offers a much more custom approach to supplementation and are more budget-friendly at $5 to $32 for a 30-day supply, depending on the product, GEM Vitamins may be a better choice for people who prefer chewable vitamins or vitamins made out of whole foods.

GEM Vitamins vs. Ritual Vitamins

Ritual Vitamins is another subscription-based supplement brand that’s vegan, non-GMO and free of artificial flavors and fillers. One of the standout traits of Ritual Vitamins is that all products are third-party tested, and you can see exactly where each ingredient is sourced (the brand website offers extensive information on all ingredient sources). Most vitamins also range in price from $33 to $39 for a one-month supply, meaning they cost less than GEM Vitamins. This makes Ritual Vitamins the winner in terms of cost and brand transparency, but GEM Vitamins still rank supreme as the best option for those who prioritize real-food ingredients.

For more information, check out our in-depth Ritual Vitamins review.

GEM Vitamins FAQs

Are GEM Vitamins third-party tested?

Third-party testing helps ensure the quality and potency of dietary supplements by getting a stamp of approval from an organization or party that isn’t affiliated with the brand selling it. GEM Vitamins aren’t third-party tested, which means the ingredient label and dosing isn’t guaranteed.

Can kids take GEM Vitamins?

GEM Vitamins are formulated for adults, meaning kids shouldn’t take them (although according to GEM Vitamins, a “small nibble” won’t hurt if a child takes a bite). Since children have different nutritional needs than adults, it’s best for youngsters to take multivitamins formulated specifically for kids.

What are the ingredients in GEM Daily Essentials?

GEM Daily Essentials has a diverse ingredients list that includes dried oranges, quinoa sprouts, gluten-free oats, coconut, black pepper extract, chickpeas and pumpkin seeds.

How does Daily GEM taste?

Daily GEM has a tangy citrus flavor with a hint of spice from the ginger. Its texture is chewy, and some customers say these chewables taste slightly nutty from the pumpkin seeds.

Is there a difference between cheap and expensive vitamins?

Some cheap vitamins are just as good as expensive vitamins. Ultimately, the quality of a vitamin will depend upon the amount of nutrients it delivers per serving, how the vitamin is formulated (i.e. made with or without fillers, added sugars, etc.) and whether or not it's third-party tested.

Does GEM have probiotics?

Daily GEM contains two billion colony-forming units of probiotics per serving.

Takeaway: Are GEM Vitamins Worth It?

If you’re looking for a real-foods alternative to multivitamin supplements, which typically come in capsule or gummy form, GEM Vitamins is a great choice for meeting your nutritional needs. “The nutrient doses are generally appropriate for daily supplementation,” Best says, but adds that it’s important to keep in mind that individual nutrient requirements can vary based on age, sex and health status. 

Unlike typical vitamins, GEM chewables resemble snacks, and you can even see some of the whole-food ingredients, like pumpkin seeds, inside of every chew. Whether your goal is to boost your overall vitamin intake, support your sleep or regulate your mood, GEM Vitamins offers three dietary supplements that each target a variety of health goals.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.

Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.