Most multivitamins should be taken once or twice a day. Be sure to read the label and follow the recommended dosing instructions. Multivitamins are available at pharmacies, large discount stores and supermarkets, as well as online. Multivitamins are supplements that contain different vitamins and minerals.
The exception is folic acid supplements for women of child-bearing age, Appel says. That's why multivitamins are recommended for young women. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all women of reproductive age consume 400 micrograms of folic acid daily. The amount of iron in a multivitamin complex may also be beneficial for women of child-bearing age, Appel adds.
Some suggest that it is beneficial to take a multivitamin complex containing vitamin B12 in the morning on an empty stomach to facilitate absorption. Most studies haven't found any significant benefit from taking a daily multivitamin to protect the brain or heart or prevent cancer. If you're not sure when you should take a multivitamin, talk to a health professional about the best time for you. Half of American adults, including 70 percent of those over 65, take a multivitamin or other vitamin or mineral supplement on a regular basis.
In fact, it's better for some people to get the vitamins and minerals their bodies need from whole foods than from a multivitamin complex. If you know that you don't eat a certain food group (such as seafood or whole grains), or if you don't eat enough fruits and vegetables every day, a daily multivitamin supplement can help you cover all the basics from a nutritional point of view. A multivitamin that includes these essential vitamins can help protect immune health and bone strength. To function properly, the body needs 13 essential vitamins and at least 15 essential minerals, and most multivitamins are formulated to include close to the recommended daily amount of most nutrients.
Cheriana, people who eat a healthy, balanced diet that incorporates whole grains, fruits, vegetables and proteins are likely to get all the vitamins they need and a multivitamin won't be very beneficial. But when is the best time to take multivitamins? Read on to learn when you should take your multivitamin supplements every day. It seems like common sense that taking a daily multivitamin is a smart decision if you want to stay healthy. He or she might suggest a daily multivitamin supplement to cover several nutritional deficiencies that appear in blood tests.
Ultimately, taking a multivitamin is a personal choice that you should make in collaboration with your doctor based on your unique nutritional and health needs.
