How To Take Your Supplements Properly

Take Your Supplements Properly

Nutrition supplements are not a substitute for eating well, but we believe nutritional supplements can enhance health and make up for deficiencies in our diets.

But, to get maximum benefit you must take your supplements properly. It may sound silly, but there is more to taking your supplements than simply opening your mouth and swallowing a tablet or capsule. Plus, if you are going to spend money on supplements you may as well take your supplements properly to maximize their benefits.

In the video below Dr. Oz discusses the three supplements he recommends and it is the same three I recommend that nearly every patient take – multivitamin, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin D.

You want to make sure you get the most out of the supplements you do take. Here are some tips on now to take your supplements properly. One key to proper taking of your supplements is to take time to fully read the labels and instructions on how to take the supplement.

• Be sure to read the label of  a supplement to know how many tablets or capsules constitutes a daily serving. Sometimes you have to take two or more tablets or capsules to get the recommended daily amount. If you are mistakenly only taking one tablet/capsule then you are short-changing yourself and may not receive the full benefit of the supplement.
• Some supplements need to be taken with meals to maximize their absorption. Some are better absorbed on an empty stomach. Make sure you know if a particular supplement should be taking with food or not.
• If a supplement calls for being taken 2 or 3 times a day be sure to take it that way. In some cases the body can only absorb so much of a nutrient at any one time. To get the recommended daily amount it then becomes necessary that those nutraceuticals being more than once a day. Calcium is an example. It is felt that the body can only effectively absorb about 500 mg of calcium at a time. If you take a 1,000 mg at once you may not absorb all of it and are simply wasting money. Plus, you may be subjecting yourself to side effects.  Some supplements are the opposite – you can take an entire day’s worth at once.
• Be sure to take your supplements regularly, but missing a day or two here and there is nothing to worry about. Again, these are supplements – they are not intended to replace food. Also, taking supplements does mean you can slack off on proper eating.
• Be sure you know why you are taking a particular supplement. Become knowledgeable. I’m always surprised at the number of patients who are either taking supplements and/or prescription medications without understanding the reason for the supplement or the medical condition for which they have been prescribed a medication. Know the reason why you are putting something in your mouth and that includes food.

It’s not complicated but to maximize the health benefits be sure to take your supplements properly.

See related articles.

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Myth: If You Eat Well You Don’t Need Nutritional Supplements