Thursday 7 October 2010

Tweaking the timing

So first step you've started taking a multivitamin, bravo I applaud you ... please keep it up!

But what if this weeks blogs are wasted on you - like me you're already taking a plethora of supplements - so many it's a surprise you don't rattle!

Well by tweaking the timing of when you take them, you can make sure you're getting the most benefit from them. Here are my top tips for timing your vits:

Generally you should take your supplements with food, rather than on an empty stomach - this is when your stomach will have the highest levels of stomach acid helping you break down and absorb your supplements.

Stagger your Bs and Cs - most vitamins and minerals are excreted after a few hours so it pays to spread out your intake. I have vitamins C and Bs in my multivitamin with breakfast and then take an extra B complex and vit C with lunch.

Don't take supplements with your morning coffee or evening glass of wine - both caffeine and alcohol encourage the excretion of vitamins whenever you have them, but you can reduce the effect by taking them away from each other.

Take vitamin C and iron together - the vitamin C helps you absorb the iron.

Top up your antioxidants before bed - you do your detoxification and repair whilst you sleep. Some extra antioxidants can support the liver and help restore your cells from the days stresses.

Take magnesium before bed or after exercise - it is a natural muscle relaxant, helping your body unwind.

Finally, unless you enjoy extremely vivid dreams (and possibly nightmares), don't take B vitamins before bed!
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