by Molly Carter

Created on: August 23, 2007

Because very few people eat enough vegetables and fruits to satisfy their bodies need of vitamins and minerals, taking vitamins is highly recommended. In order to get the greatest benefit from your vitamins, it is recommended that you space your ingestion of vitamins throughout the day. Some vitamins are recommended to be taken with food, and others are not. If you must take all your vitamins at once, it's suggested you do so with your larges meal so the majority of the vitamins can be absorbed.

Some Vitamins, like A, D, E, and K are fat soluble vitamins and require there to be some sort of fat, animal or vegetable, in your stomach to be absorbed properly. It is suggested that you take these vitamins with a meal. Vitamins C and B do not necessarily need food to be absorbed properly. As a side note, if you are taking antacids, H20 blockers, or drugs for indigestion, take Vitamin B separately since Vitamin B is optimally absorbed by your body in a highly acidic environment. Taking B Complex Vitamins can cause slight stomach upset which can be prevented by eating alight meal. It is recommended that Zinc be taken with food so it doesn't cause stomach upset.

If you take a Calcium supplement, it is suggested that you take it at night. Calcium has been proven to facilitate sleep, but also has a greater effect on building bone strength and mass while you are sleeping.

If you take herbal remedies or priobiotics, it is suggested that you take these on an empty stomach for maximum absorption. Also recommended on an empty stomach is iron. Calcium and Vitamin E prevent your body from absorbing iron so if you suffer from anemia, or take a special iron supplement, be sure to take it alone. B 12 and folic acid should be consumed on an empty stomach for maximum absorption.

If you are a one a day multivitamin person, stick to taking your vitamin with a meal like breakfast that is usually light and not overly greasy. If you target specific problems with a multitude of vitamins, be aware of the best time to take each specific vitamin and if it is optimal to take them during a meal, 20 minutes before or on a completely empty stomach. Consult your health care provider to see if your medications will interfere with any vitamins or vice versa.

Source
http://www.truestarhealth.com/tour/vitam inwhenhow.asp?code=house
http://nutrition.about.com/o d/dietsformedicaldisorders/f/emptystomach.htm

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