Anyone who wants to maintain good health for many years should investigate the different vitamins and minerals that are out there. By supplementing your diet with carefully-chosen products, you can make sure that you are giving your body everything that it needs. Keep reading for some great advice on this important topic.

Vitamins and minerals must be synthesized to be utilized by the body. One good example is the fact that calcium can prevent the body from absorbing iron. Therefore, when taking your iron pill, wait at least a half an hour to take an antacid or calcium supplement and don’t have any dairy products within this time frame.

If you are lacking in the vitamin department, you should consider changing your diet. While many people take this as a sign that they need to run to the store and buy a supplement, most of the nutrients you need can be found in food. Do a little research in order to figure out what changes need to be made.

Vitamin B9 is an essential vitamin for women. It will reduce high blood pressure, prevents heart disease, and helps reduce memory loss. Orange juice, eggs, melons, dark green vegetables and strawberries are all great foods that have high levels of vitamin B9. Many vitamin supplements are formulated for women with extra concentrations of B9.

Adults who cannot tolerate pills can take children’s chewables, but you will have to do the math to get the right amount of nutrients. You need more vitamins than kids, of course. Don’t take too many though, as overdosing can be problematic.

Canned produce, though better than fried foods, still does not contain as many nutrients as fresh fruits and veggies. You may need to add a quality supplement to your diet, too.

If you give your young children vitamin supplements make sure to keep them stored out of reach of the children. Most children’s vitamins are flavored and very similar to candy. This is to encourage children to take them. However, it can also lead to children confusing them with candy. Since it is possible to overdose on vitamins, keep them out of reach.

When you are taking your vitamins, always make sure you eat something with them. Vitamins on an empty stomach can cause you to be uncomfortable and have an upset stomach. You don’t want to feel nauseous, and instead you want to focus on the positive effects that the vitamins and nutrients will provide.

When you are taking more than 500mg of calcium per day, split it into two doses. One big dose can overwhelm you body, meaning you don’t actually absorb as much as you should. Splitting it up with breakfast and dinner ensures you get the most you can from every dose.

Minimize your alcohol intake. Alcohol is often toxic to vitamins. Vitamins can lose their effectiveness or become useless when confronted with alcohol. FDA guidelines call for no more than 21 units of alcohol for women and 14 for men each week. Stay within these boundaries to maximize the effects of your vitamin levels.

Don’t forget your children! Kids need supplements just as much as adults do, so be sure to pick up a natural, sugar-free option for them to take every day. If you have kids who are picky eaters, they need the vitamins even more than anyone else, so pick something they’re willing to chew on.

Since food is the best source of vitamins and minerals, try to eat as much fresh food as possible. Even if you have a freshly prepared meal in your refrigerator, you can deplete its nutrients by reheating it. Freshly prepared meals are ideal, and should be prepared only in the amount needed.

Make a sandwich for lunch. When you build your own sandwich, as opposed to buying a pre-packaged option, you decide what it contains. You can focus on whole grain breads or buns and minimize condiment uses. You are also in control of the meat, cheese and vegetables, which allows you to minimize fat and increase vitamin intake.

No matter your age, it is key to take a multivitamin every day. From a small child to a senior citizen, a multivitamin ensures you are getting all of the nutrients you require, even when your diet is less than stellar. Never stop taking them and enjoy the benefits for the rest of your life!

Are you getting a little testy, perhaps snapping at the smallest things? Vitamin C and zinc are important to have to reduce your stress. These emotional reactions can be the result of a simple vitamin deficiency, and nothing will help if you don’t start getting the proper vitamins and minerals.

To get the biggest impact possible from the vitamins and minerals you take in, cut down on the caffeine in your life. Caffeine causes issues with absorption of vitamins and minerals, and that means you aren’t getting the nutritional value from your food that you think you are. Just cut down a little on the coffee and sodas to make a difference.

You should be very careful if you plan to take prenatal vitamins that were not recommended or prescribed by your doctor. Many women buy them over-the-counter to avoid paying such high fees, but this can be a bad thing. Since vitamins are not heavily regulated like pharmaceuticals, it can be difficult to tell if you are buying what was advertised.

When you want to avoid developing heart disease down the road, enjoy an orange! Vitamin C has been shown to reduce risk by one third in those who take high doses of vitamin C. Of course, you can’t eat that many oranges, so a supplement may be your best choice.

You should be well aware by now of the importance of taking the proper vitamins and minerals on a regular basis. No matter who you are, you can probably benefit from adding a supplement to your daily routine. Use the tips that you have read here to choose the right products.