Most supplements can be taken with a meal, and some recommend them, either to improve absorption or to help prevent stomach discomfort. Taking supplements on an empty stomach may cause discomfort for some people (especially those with sensitive stomachs). In addition, some nutrients are better absorbed when taken with food. While the body can better process and utilize most of the nutrients in multivitamins when taken with food, this is not the case with all vitamins and minerals.
For example, your body can use iron more efficiently if you take it without food. Despite the benefits of taking calcium carbonate with food, other forms of calcium are better absorbed by the body on an empty stomach. Likewise, vitamins A and E are more available to your body if you take them on an empty stomach. However, since the potential costs of doing so outweigh the benefits, you should avoid taking multivitamins on an empty stomach.
However, skip the missed dose if it's almost time for the next one. This will prevent it from being dosed twice, he said. Many buyers use the word vitamins as a universal term to refer to all of their supplements, whether the ingredients they actually contain are vitamins such as A, B complex and C, or totally different nutritional compounds, such as digestive enzymes, probiotics or herbal supplements. The amount of compounds in most multivitamins makes it difficult to determine the best way to use these supplements.
If you belong to this part of the population, you may have heard about some things you should and shouldn't do, such as certain combinations of supplements that you should avoid. However, if you're thinking about starting a fish oil or vitamin E supplement regimen, check with your doctor first, especially if you're taking medications or have any medical conditions. You know your body better than anyone, and you should always talk to your doctor about a personal decision, such as taking supplements. The rewards of this new habit will be great, as the supplement will have the best possible chance of providing you with the results you're looking for.
Depending on your health path and your wellness goals, you should consider what type of supplement you're taking, for what purpose, and what are the recommendations on the label. For that reason, the common wisdom (and this is usually indicated on the supplement label) is to take a daily multivitamin with a meal or, at the very least, with a good-sized snack. On the other hand, if you're a person who wakes up hungry and needs to eat right away, you may need to make a habit of taking supplements for an empty stomach 4 hours after a meal. If you browse the web and read news, magazine articles, or blog posts regularly, you've likely found a lot of different opinions about vitamins and supplements.
Your doctor can also give you advice on how to get the most out of nutritional supplements. If you're in the habit of consuming your supplements, especially calcium or iron tablets, with your morning coffee, reconsider.