Should you take vitamins on empty stomach? Dietitian's guide
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Vitamins are important substances necessary to support health and normal bodily functions. They play a key role in metabolism. It's important to know what happens if you take vitamins on an empty stomach, reports the Best Life Online website.
How to take vitamins correctly
Most healthy adults obtain vitamins through proper nutrition. Others regularly take vitamin supplements.
Many people are unsure whether vitamins can be taken on an empty stomach.
Dietitian Christa Brown explained that certain types of vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, E, and K, "can be particularly harsh on an empty stomach and may lead to gastrointestinal issues." It is typically recommended to take these types of vitamins with food to help soften side effects and improve absorption.
If taken on an empty stomach, nausea, stomach pain, cramps, and even vomiting may occur.
Brown recommends eating a handful of nuts to help "prime your digestive system" and ensure absorption of the vitamins.
Dietitian Dr. Stacy Roberts-Davis says it's important to eat at least 30 minutes before taking any vitamins that may cause gastrointestinal distress. This can help get your digestive system moving, which can further aid absorption.
It's important to read the instructions before taking vitamins.
How to сhoose
Vitamins are biologically active substances. Before choosing which vitamins you need most, consider the following:
- Consultation with a doctor - before starting to take any vitamins, especially vitamin complexes, it is recommended to consult with a doctor. They can determine which vitamins you need based on your health status and body's needs.
- Diet diversity - try to balance your diet by including various types of foods. Consuming a variety of foods helps you get all the necessary vitamins from your diet.
- Quality of products - choose quality products, as the quality of raw materials affects the vitamin content.
Rules for taking vitamins
To ensure vitamins are absorbed well, it is necessary to:
- Follow the dosage - each vitamin has an optimal daily dose that should be adhered to. Excessive consumption of certain vitamins can be harmful to health.
- Time of intake - some vitamins are best absorbed at certain times of the day or with food.
- Combining vitamins - some vitamins interact with each other, enhancing or diminishing each other's effects. Therefore, it's important to know which vitamins can be combined and which cannot.
We also wrote about the healthiest foods in the world.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
