Numerous supplements are required in our everyday lives, but sometimes we are unsure what to take with which supplement and when. When we need vitamins and minerals, we always turn to food, but this isn’t always enough. We are advised to take supplements to fill in the nutritional gaps in our everyday diet.
Following are some suggestions for selecting vitamins and other supplements and when to take them for best results.
What is a Vitamin?
Vitamins are the organic substances that the body needs in small amounts to function properly. One of the critical nutrients the body may require from meals, a tiny amount of vitamins in the body can increase the risk of health problems.
13 different types of vitamins exist:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B1
- Vitamin B2
- Vitamin B3
- Vitamin B5
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin B7
- Vitamin B9
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
What is a Supplement?
These supplements, which provide our bodies with enough nutrients, are also known as food or dietary supplements. These can be supplements made from pills, tablets, capsules, etc., that contain vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids.
Our bodies require a specific quantity of each vitamin for proper operation. High amounts can harm us and have negative impacts on our bodies. Every doctor should have access to a healthy choice of vitamin dietary supplements.
Can you take vitamins and supplements while taking prescription medication?
The non-prescription nutritional supplements must be taken before any prescription medications. If you are unsure if you should take supplements in addition to your prescription medications, you should speak with a doctor who can provide you with the right advice and regimen. Below are a few supplements you may be interested in learning more about.
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Retinoids:
These are comparable to vitamin A and are used to treat psoriasis and acne, but there is a chance that taking them will make you queasy, throw up, feel faint, have weak muscles, or have blurry eyesight. While pregnant, using these supplements can be harmful to the unborn child.
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Antacids:
Acid reflux is a common problem for pregnant women, and medication may be provided for it. It is well recognised that remedies for heartburn inhibit the absorption of calcium, folic acid, vitamin C, and vitamin B12. This is readily fixed by either consuming alternative forms of nutrients or by merely taking a supplement of the vitamin that the medication harms.
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Aspirin:
The use of aspirin is used to treat pain as well as to lower heat and edema. The body’s levels of iron, vitamin C, zinc, folic acid, and vitamin B12 may decrease if you use aspirin. Supplementing with vitamin E and aspirin may cause excessive bleeding.
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Metformin:
Metformin is a medication that helps people with type 2 diabetes and prediabetics control their blood sugar levels. Metformin use lowers the body’s levels of B12 and folic acid.
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Medicine for the thyroid and antibiotics:
Common antibiotics like fluoroquinolones and tetracyclines, as well as thyroid medications like levothyroxine and bisphosphonates, may be less effective when calcium, magnesium, zinc, and iron are present.
It is advised to space out your intake of minerals and pure organic ingredients vitamin C by at least four hours and to avoid taking antibiotics or thyroid drugs simultaneously.
The Risks of Combining Medications and Dietary Supplements
Dietary supplements are frequently utilised and contain vitamins, minerals, and other less well-known compounds such as amino acids, botanicals, and plant chemicals.
It is being noted that about ten million people take dietary supplements and prescription medication.
Combining these supplements with medication is harmful and even life-threatening, such as drugs for HIV/ AIDS, heart problems, depression, treatment for an organ transplant, and birth control pills. Depending on the medication, the results can be severe.
Furthermore, prescription medications such as blood thinners, herbal supplements, aspirin, and vitamin E can increase internal bleeding risks and strokes.
“Natural” Doesn’t Always Mean Safe!
Most consumers think that natural products, such as fish oil and herbal supplements, can’t be so harmful to them, but it is not valid. For example, many products claim they are natural weight loss products, including only natural and herbal ones. Still, their ingredients may interact with medications or can be dangerous for people with certain medical conditions.
Precautions for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers!
Both are taking supplements and using medications can harm people, especially children. Children have individual metabolisms, and depending on their age, they metabolise things at varying rates.
Any healthy choice vitamin dietary supplements should also be discussed with a health care provider if you are pregnant or nursing.
Preoperative considerations!
Be mindful that some dietary supplements can interact negatively with drugs you must take before, after, or during surgery if you are considering having surgery. Two or three weeks before the surgery, your doctor may advise you to cease using nutritional supplements to prevent possibly harmful changes in your heart rate, blood pressure, or risk of bleeding.
Before you use supplements, consult with LifeNotLabs professionals!
Talking to a healthcare professional before using any dietary supplements or medications, whether they are over-the-counter or prescribed.
We have put together a product range that provides organic, superfood extract alternatives to help meet vitamin requirements after consulting with nutrition specialists from numerous universities and Eastern and Holistic Medicine experts.
We only use the purest, most organically grown, refined products found in nature. You can contact us by email at info@lifenotlabs.com. You can also call 800.554.9162.
