When and How to Take Supplements

DRAFT ---  need to fact check and add more

Why is this information not UP FRONT for people who take supplements?  I learned much of this years after taking various things at the wrong time and in the wrong way.

1.  An empty stomach is generally defined as more than 1 hour before food and no less than 2 hours after food.

2.  In general, take supplements WITH food.  There are exceptions: 

-- Fiber is taken on an empty stomach. And once ingested, sufficient high quality water needs to be consumed.

-- an amino acid taken to solve an issue is taken alone and on an empty stomach, e.g., Lysine for herpes/cold sores.

-- parasite cleanses need an empty stomach.

3.  Chew tablets, or grind them up.  Don't swallow them whole.

4.  You can open capsules and dump the contents in or on your food.

5.  Fat soluble vitamins MUST be taken WITH fat - this includes Vitamins A, D E and K.

6.  Mineral supplements require fat and sufficient stomach acid to be broken down and utilized.  (Always put butter on your vegetables!  Apple cider vinegar or a vinegar based salad dressing before the meal raises stomach acid.)

7.  The essential water soluble vitamins need to be taken in a natural form.  Vitamins synthesized in a lab, or not from plants, are not the same thing, and can cause problems for many people who cannot process them.

-- B1 (thiamine)

-- B2 (riboflavin)

-- B3 (niacin)

-- B5 (pantothenic acid)

-- B6 (pyridoxine)

-- B7 (biotin)

-- B9 (folate)

-  B12 (Methylcobalamin or Adenosylcobalamin - in buffered form, dissolve under the tongue)

-- C (absorbic acid is SYNTHETIC and the cheapest and most common form in processed foods and beverages and low cost vitamin supplements.  Instead, look for Rose Hips, Liposomal, or Plant/Herbal based ingredients)