According to the Council for Responsible Nutrition, around 68% of American men and 77% of American women report taking supplements. Around 81% of people over 55 years old do the same. If you are one of the millions of Americans taking supplements from brands like Vital Nutrients at Supplement First, you may have a few simple questions, such as whether or not you can take supplements on an empty stomach. For some supplements, it won’t matter. But other supplements can cause stomach irritation if you don’t take them with food. Read on to lean which ones you shouldn’t take on an empty stomach.

  1. Multivitamins

There are two major reasons why you shouldn’t take multivitamins on an empty stomach, even from reputable stores like Thorne Research. One, your body absorbs some of the individual nutrients in multivitamins better with food compared to an empty stomach. Second, taking a multivitamin without eating usually results in an upset stomach.

  1. Probiotics

Probiotics are made up of good bacteria and yeast, which helps you stay healthy, especially when it comes to gut health. Studies have shown the importance of taking your probiotics before or during your meals, which can reduce the risk of your stomach acid killing the probiotics you just consumed.

  1. Fat-Soluble Vitamins

As the name suggests, fat-soluble vitamins require fat for your body to absorb them. Because of this, you must take these vitamins while consuming food that contains healthy fat:

–          Vitamin A

–          Vitamin D

–          Vitamin E

–          Vitamin K

  1. Fish Oil

Consuming fish oil supplements with a high-fat meal is known to help the body absorb omega-3 fatty acids. Besides that, pairing fish oil with food can help prevent regurgitation or burping.

  1. Iron

This may be a controversial point, as it’s said to take iron on an empty stomach to help with abruption. However, there have been reports of side effects like cramps, nausea, and diarrhea. If you experience any of these symptoms when taking iron on an empty stomach, it’s best to take it with a small amount of food.

  1. CoQ10

This is an antioxidant that helps with the health of the brain, heart, pancreas, and liver. It’s always recommended to take this supplement with a fatty meal or other types of food for optimal nutrient absorption.

  1. Calcium Carbonate

If you take calcium carbonate to help boost your bone strength, make sure you take it with a meal. When eating your stomach will produce acids which help the body absorb this nutrient.

  1. Selenium

Individuals sometimes take selenium supplements to promote their immune system and bone prostate health. It is also helpful in reducing thyroid inflammation. However, taking selenium without food can often cause side effects like an upset stomach and diarrhea, so it’s best to take it with a snack.

Wrapping It Up

Now that you know what supplements you shouldn’t take on an empty stomach, make sure you eat even just a bit of food alongside the nutrients mentioned above.