Multivitamins: How to Pick the Right Supplement
Pages in this Story:
- Skipping That Little Pill? Big Mistake
- 1 Pill, 5 Reasons to Pop It
- Truth or Vita-Myth?
- Answers to Your Biggest Supplement Questions
Answers to Your Biggest Supplement Questions
"Why do I need extra calcium?"Multis don't have the recommended 1,000 milligrams because the pill would be too big to swallow (this mineral has large molecules!). To get the calcium you need, take a separate supplement of 200 to 400 mg that also has 100 to 200 IUs of vitamin D to aid absorption. Just don't pop several calcium pills simultaneously or at the same time as your multi: Your body can absorb calcium in small doses only.
"Why does my multivitamin turn my pee such a bright shade of yellow?""Contrary to common belief, it doesn't mean you're urinating away nutrients," Dawn Weatherwax-Fall says. "It's a healthy sign that your body is metabolizing the B vitamins in your multi and processing out any excess."
"Can I OD on vitamins if I also eat fortified cereal?"Yes. You could get too much folic acid. So stick with your daily multi and skip the cereal, or take your multi every other day. (Hint: To remember which day to take your multi, jot it down in your planner.)
"Do vitamins expire?"You bet. When buying, make sure the expiration date is at least a year away. Once you bring the bottle home, store it in a cool place out of direct sunlight.
"Does it matter when I take my multi?"Yes. It's best to take it after a meal, because the food in your belly boosts your body's uptake of nutrients.
Originally published in FITNESS magazine, April 2009.
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6/18/2012 03:28:42 AM Report Abusewow this is an eye opener i just checked my bottle of multi and surprisingly it has no iron in it
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1/13/2012 03:35:57 PM Report AbuseGetting pregnant is definitely NOT my number-one reason to take a vitamin. That actually makes me not want to take one!
9/17/2010 12:21:45 PM Report AbuseAnything about what men need?
2/25/2010 08:07:01 PM Report Abuse