The best time to take any supplement is when you remember to take it. Regularity is an extremely important factor in determining whether a supplement will work for you, especially for long-term ailments or symptoms, or to prevent disease and promote longevity. If you have no trouble actually remembering to take your supplements, here are a few more tips for maximizing the benefits of your supplements:
- Take vitamin and mineral capsules and tablets with meals, when your digestion is most active, for maximum absorption and to lessen the possibility of gastrointestinal upset.
- Add herbal liquid extracts and nutrient powders to water, or drink teas, before or between meals for best effectiveness.
- If a supplement like garlic tends to upset your stomach, take it just before meals to reduce possible discomfort.
 | - Stimulating supplements such as ginseng and spirulina and energy products containing ephedra (ma huang) or caffeine are best taken in the early part of the day, not before bedtime.
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| If you have trouble remembering or are not very steady with your supplement program, try this trick to help you stay on track: Before bed, or first thing in the morning, put all your daily supplements into a little dish and keep it in plain sight on your kitchen counter. Another effective timesaver is to sort out a week or two's worth of daily supplements in a special tray with 7 or 14 small partitions. You can buy these in many health food stores and vitamin shops. Spreading your supplements throughout the day (such as, at morning and evening meals) is best, but if you think you won't remember, taking supplements at one time during the day is fine. |
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