You have done your research and chosen to take several vitamins and/or minerals that you think you can benefit from. You are now wondering: When is the best time to take vitamins?
Adding supplements to your routine may seem tricky, but once you understand when it’s best to take vitamins each day, such as in the morning or evening, you can incorporate it into your routine without overdoing it. think it. Also, by choosing when you take your supplements, you give them the best chance of being properly absorbed, allowing them to provide the most benefit possible. Of course, you should always consult your doctor before starting any new diet or lifestyle, including taking supplements. You should also always read and follow the label instructions regarding product use.
Should I take vitamins in the morning or in the evening?
The ideal time to take vitamins and minerals really depends on what they are. Some are best absorbed with a meal, while others can be taken any time of the day. This will influence the decision to take the supplements in the morning or evening. For example, “fat-soluble” vitamins, which include vitamins A, E, K, and D, should generally be taken with a meal, especially a meal that contains at least a small amount of fat that aids absorption. Fats such as olive or coconut oil, whole dairy products, nuts, seeds, eggs, and avocados can all help your body use fat-soluble vitamins.
You can take these vitamins with breakfast or dinner, but it’s best to avoid taking them on a completely empty stomach.
In contrast, “water-soluble” vitamins, including B vitamins and vitamin C, can usually be taken in the morning or evening, with or without a meal, because their absorption does not depend on the foods you eat.
Taking water-soluble vitamins on an empty stomach, such as in the morning or between meals, can help your body absorb them better, but some people find it easier to take them with a meal.
Best time to take multivitamins
Who benefits from taking multivitamins?
Even a quality diet is not always enough to cover all your nutritional needs. That’s because not all foods found in grocery stores, including healthy foods like vegetables and fruits, are nutrient-dense if they’ve been grown in poor-quality soil or if they don’t are not very fresh when you eat them. Therefore, multivitamins can help fill the nutritional gaps in your diet if you are unable to meet your needs through diet alone. Multivitamins are also often recommended for people on restrictive diets, such as low-calorie, low-carb, or vegan diets. Also, most aging adults and pregnant women, who need more of certain nutrients, have good reason to take multivitamins regularly. Overall, multivitamins provide benefits such as supporting bone health, cardiovascular function, healthy immune system function, healthy energy levels, and more.
How to Choose a Quality Multivitamin
If you’re investing the money and time into taking supplements, you want them to help you as much as possible with your immune system, cognitive health, heart, and more.
Look for multivitamins made from real food ingredients, which your body recognizes and can use more easily, as well as those that contain sprouted and fermented ingredients. Sprouting and fermentation allow food to be partially broken down so that it is even easier to digest.
When is the best time to take multivitamins?
You can take your multivitamin in the morning with breakfast, which aids absorption and is often easier on the stomach, or if you prefer, in the evening with dinner. Whatever time you choose, stay consistent so you don’t run out of days.
Best time to take prenatal vitamins
Why should pregnant women take multivitamins? Pregnancy is a time when the body needs extra vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats and other nutrients as these help in the growth and development of the fetus. For example, folate and iron are very important during pregnancy because they help the body make enough red blood cells and help the development of the central nervous system of the fetus (brain, spinal cord, nerves, etc.). To ensure mom and baby are getting the nutrients they need in addition to a healthy diet, taking a quality prenatal multivitamin during pregnancy, which contains specialized amounts of vitamins and minerals per compared to regular multivitamins, is strongly encouraged. However, you should always consult your healthcare professional. Overall, the benefits of prenatal vitamins include: general prenatal health, healthy fertility, healthy sleep and energy levels, and healthy blood folate levels.
How to Choose a Quality Prenatal Vitamin
As with regular multivitamins, opt for a prenatal supplement made from food ingredients, with no additives or fillers. You can also look for a supplement that contains fermented, methylated, or coenzyme forms of nutrients that are designed to promote healthy absorption and ease of action in the body. In general, you should choose a supplement that provides 100% or more of the Daily Value (DV) of the 12 essential vitamins and minerals you need (including vitamins A, B, C, D, and E, as well as iron , folate, zinc and others).
Best time to take a prenatal vitamin
Prenatal vitamins contain fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins. It is therefore preferable to take them either in the morning with breakfast, which promotes absorption, or in the evening with dinner. As pregnant women can have sensitive stomachs during this time, some find that taking prenatal vitamins at dinner before bedtime is the best option. Pick a time and stay consistent so you can easily remember to take your vitamins daily.
Best time to take other vitamins
Best time to take B vitamins
Ideally in the morning, with water or another drink, or you can take them with food. You can and should take B vitamins together (as in a B-complex supplement) because they are most effective when taken together.
Best time to take vitamin C
At any time, with water or another drink, or with food.
Best time to take vitamin D3
Take it with a meal containing fat, ideally in the morning or afternoon (when your body naturally makes vitamin D from sunlight).
Best time to take vitamin E
Take it with a meal containing fat, at any time of the day.
Best time to take magnesium
Ideally, take it in the morning with a meal or divide it into two small portions (morning and evening). Some people may choose to take more at night to aid sleep and digestion the next morning.
Best time to take zinc
Take one to two hours before a meal, with water or another drink.
Best time to take omega-3 fatty acids
Take them with a meal containing fat, at any time of the day. You can take the omega-3s in two divided servings if you need more than one capsule/serving.
Which vitamins should not be taken together?
If you take a multivitamin, you will be consuming many different nutrients together. This is usually not a problem because you are not taking large doses of vitamins or minerals all at once.
However, in general, one should avoid taking large amounts of vitamins/minerals with other nutrients, as some may compete with each other and block absorption in the body. (As always, be sure to check with your healthcare professional).
Vitamins/minerals that should not be taken together in large amounts include:
Vitamin C and Vitamin B12
Iron and calcium
Vitamin C and iron
Zinc and Magnesium
Calcium and Magnesium
In summary
Is it better to take vitamins in the morning or in the evening? It depends on the type of vitamin and what your healthcare professional says. Water-soluble vitamins (like B vitamins) and most minerals can be taken at any time of the day, while fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, E, D, K) should be taken with a meal, either dinner or breakfast, to be properly absorbed. Which vitamins should not be taken together? Avoid taking large amounts of different nutrients together, including spacing out the intake of vitamin C, iron, magnesium, calcium, and zinc. Look for multivitamins made from real food ingredients, which your body recognizes and can most easily use, as well as those that contain sprouted and fermented ingredients.
