When To Take Your Vitamins & Supplements
If you take daily supplements, vitamins or herbs, the following guidelines can help to lessen or prevent any side effects – and help to promote the full benefits supplements can provide:
- Take your supplements during or right after a meal, unless directed otherwise, and drink plenty of fluids as well. The increased acid and enzymes that are a part of digestion can aid in their absorption and minimize any upset. Iron would be an exception; it’s generally best taken spaced out from meals by at least an hour.
- Take consistently to achieve maximum health benefits. It usually takes two to three months before you feel the full positive effects of adding nutritional supplements, whether that is symptom improvement or a change in your lab markers. Use a pillbox or set reminders to create regular and consistent habits.
- Take as indicated. Your supplements may be recommended or packaged for morning, noon or evening dosages, based on your individual health needs. For maximum benefit, take your supplements at the time of day indicated on the package. If there has not been a specific time recommended, aim to take them at the time of day most likely to become a daily habit.
- Prioritize your list. If you feel your supplement list is growing and keeps getting longer, consider working with one of our integrative medicine trained providers to determine which ones are most important and worth focusing on, for your health and your budget. Be engaged in your treatment plan and ask how long you should anticipate taking each one.
Despite these guidelines, realize that most often the best time to take supplements is when you can make them part of your daily routine. In addition, keep your physician informed about your supplement usage.
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