How to Measure the Amount of Antioxidants in Vitamins Vitamins and minerals are essential substances in our lives. They provide us the necessary control over food processing and “waste� management at the cellular level. We might not be actively aware of their presence and activity, but we do feel sick when they are not enough or in the right proportion. Part of what makes vitamins so great is their role as antioxidants in our bodies. They assist and enhance the metabolic processes and fight free radicals. You can find them in different doses in all kinds of foods you eat every day, but sometimes the foods you have access to are not the healthiest from this point of view. This happens during the winter in temperate regions, for example, when vitamin-filled fresh fruits and vegetables are really expensive. Before taking supplements, ask for the opinion of a medical specialist, your medical doctor or a nutritionist. They will be able to recommend the proper supplements, making sure they do not interfere with your medication. Some antioxidant supplements interact in a negative way with medication, but some help the body regain its strength. You are probably wondering what the best way for taking these supplements is. Now you will find out how these vitamins translate as antioxidants and how to take them the proper way. When you buy a bottle of antioxidant or multivitamin supplements, you will notice there is a big table on the side with all the active components, the amount per serving (usually one tablet) and the percent of daily intake that’s covered by that serving. That information is extremely important when calculating your antioxidant input.
Make sure to read the supplement table carefully (image source: http://ods.od.nih.gov/images/content/Supplement-Label-2.jpg)
Before taking vitamin or antioxidant supplements, carefully read and understand instructions and precautions written on the product’s label. Dosage is also very important, since an amount that is too high of one antioxidant will unbalance others. If you buy more than one bottle of antioxidant supplements, you should check which individual vitamins or antioxidants are in both products in order to not take an exaggerated dose. You can compensate for one vitamin or antioxidant that is in excess by taking each supplement once every two days, alternatively. Below you can find a table with the maximum tolerable doses per day for some vitamins and minerals. You should make sure the combined input from your diet and the supplements does not exceed the maximum tolerable dose per day.
Vitamins and minerals and the recommended dietary allowance table (image source: http://images.bimedia.net/images/021913_supplements-large.png) When is the best time to take antioxidant or multivitamin supplements? It is recommended that multivitamin and antioxidant supplements be taken once a day, along with a meal. The best case is when you take them at the same hour every day, thus bringing a healthy routine to your diet and giving the body the time to process the supplements. Since we live in a daily cycle, the best thing to do is incorporate these supplements into your day. The best
time for taking the supplements is during your breakfast, along with a hardboiled egg or a glass of milk. Taking the supplements while eating during the day ensures that they will not have ill effects, such as stomach aches or indigestion, especially in the beginning, when the body is not used to this input. Some vitamins are soluble in organic solvents and fat, so in order to have the best absorption, make sure to add a bit of vegetable oil to your breakfast (like inbruschetta with olive oil) or butter and cheese. They are not only tasty, but help you take in the best of your supplements.