Many of us take dietary supplements daily, but how often do we think about when to take them? Try these tips to help you improve absorption of your dietary supplements:
■ Take multivitamins with a meal because the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K require some fat to be absorbed. Also, drink plenty of water to help water-soluble vitamins dissolve efficiently.
■ Take calcium supplements in doses of 500 milligrams with meals. Don’t take calcium supplements at the same time as a supplement with iron because the two minerals can interfere with each other, resulting in reduced absorption.
■ Take fiber supplements several hours before taking any nutritional supplement because fiber can bind to minerals and could make them unavailable for the body to use.
■ Ask your doctor or pharmacist if your vitamins may have any potential interactions with your prescription or over-the-counter medications.
— Source: North Dakota State University