Food supplements: When Should I Take Them?

Written by Evelina ~ Category: Wellness ~ Read Time: 3 min.

Given the fast pace of the modern world, sometimes, among our responsibilities, professional and social life it’s hard to take care of our nutritional needs. Hence, a lot of people, due to vitamin and mineral deficiencies, need to boost their body needs with food supplements.

Vitamin and mineral supplements can be particularly useful when nutrition is not sufficient, individual needs are very high, or deficiencies are large enough.

Although dietary supplements are now very widespread and more than half of people take one during their day, how many are the ones who do it the right way? This is a question of many since it’s not always clear what is the right timing to take all those supplements and whether we all need them.

A factor that significantly determines whether supplements are used correctly is the timing of their intake.

So, what is the right time to take each supplement?

Vitamin B12 & B Vitamins

B vitamins are water-soluble vitamins, that is, vitamins that dissolve in water.

That's why it's usually best taken on an empty stomach, i.e., at least 2 hours after or 30 minutes before the next meal/snack.

In fact, it is advisable to take them early in the day due to their participation in several energy production reactions in the body.

So, half an hour before or two hours after breakfast, it can have maximum effect.

Vitamin C

timing for food supplements 2.webp

Vitamin C can be taken at any time during the day with or without food, without affecting its absorption and, therefore, its effectiveness.

However, as it is a substance with particular acidity, taking it on an empty stomach can cause gastrointestinal disorders.

Also, as with B vitamins, it is a vitamin that plays an important role in energy production reactions in the body, which can affect sleep quality if taken late at night.

Therefore, prefer to take vitamin C in the morning with your first meal or snack.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D belongs to the category of fat-soluble vitamins, that is, vitamins that need some form of fat in order to be absorbed.

Combine Vitamin D with your main meal, ideally, the biggest you do in the day. If this is not possible, definitely take it with a meal or snack that contains fat, such as nuts, avocado, or a glass of milk.

Multivitamins

Multivitamin supplements contain both water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins. In order to ensure the absorption of the latter, it is advisable to take them with a main meal.

In fact, if you're taking more than one pill, break them down into two meals to help your body absorb them more efficiently.

Iron

Although iron is best absorbed on an empty stomach, it can cause gastrointestinal problems such as nausea or diarrhea.

That's why it may be best for you to take his supplement with a small amount of food. Avoid foods and drinks that will hinder its absorption, such as milk and dairy, tea and coffee, and choose those rich in vitamin C, such as strawberries and orange juice.

Magnesium

As magnesium supplements can also be heavy on the stomach, it is best to take them with a meal.

In addition, due to magnesium’s calming effect on the nervous and muscular systems, many find it better to take it 1-2 hours before bedtime.

Therefore, it would be ideal to take a magnesium supplement with your evening meal.

As we can conclude from the above, there is, indeed, proper timing in taking dietary supplements. However, the timing for each of them depends on the active substance they contain, and this can affect their effectiveness.

It is, of course, important, in addition to the appropriate time of intake, to know the quality of the supplement you are taking.

Always consult your healthcare professionals if you are thinking of taking any supplements, and trust companies that produce supplements following all the necessary specifications.

Prolipsis supplements are one of them, holding all the certifications and having, first and foremost, the *real nutritional benefit for people*!

You can find Prolipsis supplements here.

It took 1 coffee to write this article.


About the author

Evelina

The cool kid of the office! Everyone wants to be friends with Evelina since she is a combination of sweetness, coolness, and calmness. She is very dedicated to her profession, and she is always willing to help, from giving a nutrition tip to... participating in a TikTok video! She is also a patient listener and a very talented editor!

LinkedIn Instagram Facebook
Search