Talking Vitamins

So why do we take vitamins?  We do so to prevent colds, have healthier pregnancies, increase our immune system, and simply for overall health. What is important to remember, however, is that some of the vitamins we take are water soluble. What this means is our bodies will only absorb a certain amount of each vitamin and then get rid of the rest. 

Vitamin C, for example. This is a very common one, especially during the winter. There are many products claiming to have 1000mgs of vitamin C. So, you take this Vitamin C bomb, and you think your body is taking in all that extra vitamin C right?. Wrong. What happens is your body absorbs it's maximum amount(about 250mgs) in the first 1 or 2 hrs, and you just pee out the rest. If you really want to battle a cold with Vitamin C, you are better off getting a chewable 250mg tablet, and taking one every 2 hrs throughout the day. This way, your body is consistently taking in the vitamin and, therefore, helping your immune system.

And I do the same for Folic Acid. We are told to make sure that we get plenty of Folic Acid if we are, or are trying to become, pregnant. Again, your body will only take in so much per dose. I take one Folic acid pill in the morning(800mcgs), and one viactiv multi vitamin at lunch(with 400mcgs of folic acid) and another viactiv after dinner. 

With these key vitamins that we take throughout our lives, I feel it is important to consider staggering the dose to maximize our body's absorption of each vitamin. 

Just something to consider:)

-J