Post by Neversatisfied on Jun 27, 2007 21:04:57 GMT -5
- Megadosing: In general, choose a multivitamin-mineral supplement — for example, Centrum, One-A-Day, others — that provides about 100 percent of the Daily Value (DV) of all the vitamins and minerals, rather than one which has, for example, 500 percent of the DV for one vitamin and only 20 percent of the DV for another (megavitamins). The exception to this is calcium. You may notice that calcium-containing supplements don't provide 100 percent of the DV. If they did, the tablets would be too large to swallow. Want more? If you use a "mega" vitamin with more than one pill per dose (serving size 2+ tablets or capsules), split the dose and take half in the morning and half at night.
- Take with food. Enzymes in the small intestine break down and absorb nutrients. These enzymes are released in response to consuming a meal. You won't activate this process by just swallowing a tablet with water!
- Look for 'USP' on the label. This ensures that the supplement meets the standards for strength, purity, disintegration and dissolution (guarantees the pill will actually DISSOLVE inside your digestive tract!) established by the testing organization U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP).
- Look for expiration dates. Dietary supplements can lose potency over time, especially in hot and humid climates. If a supplement doesn't have an expiration date, don't buy it. If your supplements have expired, discard them.
- Store all vitamin and mineral supplements safely. Store dietary supplements in a dry, cool place. Avoid hot, humid storage locations, such as the bathroom. Also, store supplements out of sight and away from children. Vitamins may look like candy to children!
- Take with food. Enzymes in the small intestine break down and absorb nutrients. These enzymes are released in response to consuming a meal. You won't activate this process by just swallowing a tablet with water!
- Look for 'USP' on the label. This ensures that the supplement meets the standards for strength, purity, disintegration and dissolution (guarantees the pill will actually DISSOLVE inside your digestive tract!) established by the testing organization U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP).
- Look for expiration dates. Dietary supplements can lose potency over time, especially in hot and humid climates. If a supplement doesn't have an expiration date, don't buy it. If your supplements have expired, discard them.
- Store all vitamin and mineral supplements safely. Store dietary supplements in a dry, cool place. Avoid hot, humid storage locations, such as the bathroom. Also, store supplements out of sight and away from children. Vitamins may look like candy to children!