Timing of Nutrients

[Maurya]

We have been discussing many foods, supplements, nutrients, herbs, etc. Occasionally a tidbit pops up about having, for example, an amino acid in between meals, or a vitamin intermittently throughout the day, as in the case of ascorbate. Ascorbate is water soluble, but so are the majority of the B vitamins, and yet most of the Bs are recommended to be taken early in the waking hours of the day, rather than throughout the day. A few more that come to the top of my alleged mind would be alpha lipoic acid, gingko biloba, vitamin D, etc. that have been recommended for early in the day.

More than likely, most you you smart folks have already put this all together, buy perhaps someone other than myself still is groping about for this one. Does a concise resource exist, that might explain the proper timing of nutrients, herbs, and supplements, for the most desirable effect, and for the least interference with other healthful functions (such as sleeping). LEF for example provides an abundance of good nutritional information, but is maddeningly vague on amounts and on timing of intake to achieve the best results. Any reference that has been found to be helpful would be appreciated. Thanks.

[mellowsong]

Maurya,
I'm not aware of a specific resource and that would be hard to because often, supplements are taking for various reasons and why you are taking would determine timing. One thing that comes immediately to mind are enzymes. If you are taking to reduce fibrin, lessen risk of blood clots, things like that, they absolutely must be taken on an empty stomach. However, if taking as a digestive aid, with meals.

My personal rule of thumb is that our nutrients almost exclusively come from food...therefore it only makes sense to take with food and probably smaller amounts with each meal rather than one large dose with one meal.

Fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) need a fatty meal. Vitamin C has a short half life so should be taken several times/day. B Vitamins can energize some people, therefore the recommendation to take early in the day. Magnesium is calming, so taking a dose at bedtime helps many.

I could go on and on but there is no one size fits all and often, we need to experiment to find out what works for our body.

Honestly, I think your best bet would be to look up each supplement you are taking with why you are taking it in mind. I know that's a pain, but it is just too complicated to neatly categorize.

Now that I've said all this, someone will probably find a neatly categorized list

[Islander]

Mellowsong pretty much said what I would have said. I note which of mine must be taken on an empty stomach (thyroid, nattokinase, ALA) so keep them by my computer where I have my morning coffee. I do take the C 4x/day, the multis with food, the fish oil with fat etc.

Experimentation proved VERY quickly that Vitamin D was causing my insomnia. I'd been off it for over 6 weeks and was falling asleep normally for the first time in 3 years. Took one 4000 IU on Saturday morning; could not sleep Saturday night. Looks like I need to depend on good old fashioned sunshine.

ETA: 6 months later, D has nothing to do with my insomnia. Emotional arousal (e.g. watching a movie late in the day) does.

[Maurya]

Terrific info! Thanks. Already I have learned another tidbit, this time about ALA; although I had learned that it is best taken in the morning, I had not realized that it is one that might be best taken on the empty stomach. And of course vitamin D, and the insomnia therefrom, that might be the issue which most recently has sparked my curiosity about the timing issues. Now that the weather is warming up slightly, and I can be in the sun more, I wonder if the sun absorbed D would have the same effect, or if my new found sensitivity to supplemental D would exacerbate any hidden sensitivity to sun. I am one who does not sunburn, and can stay out in whatever sun is available almost indefinitely (or until it gets dark ). Looking forward to that elusive good night's sleep.

[Aaltrude]

I wonder if the sun absorbed D would have the same effect, or if my new found sensitivity to supplemental D would exacerbate any hidden sensitivity to sun.

I am intolerant of supplemental vitamin D and I do not have any problems out in the sun. Hopefully you will be OK with sunlight. Attachment 76

[EmmaPeel]

Good questions and answers!

One thing I do now is to take my Vit. D in the morning during breakee's. Before I used to take it in the afternoon and even at supper....not good for me. I stayed up all night...I wondered if it was peri-menopause but it turned out that when I started to take it earlier, and only about 3000iu E.O.D., it was fine. And yes, Pegg, I figured that the higher dosage I was taking was sitting in my body fat, hence the insomnia reaction...
Something to consider. Very lean people perhaps can manage the larger doses, ya figure???

All my other vitamins I take at noon. BTW, Mellow, decided to go back to Mercola's Multi-Plus(Mother's Day free shipping offer) as it was the only one I noticed that did not use aspartate, and used methylcobalamin, amongst other things. I did not react to Mercola vitamins, but I do notice that I cannot tolerate stevia. It gives me blinding migraines almost instantly!

Remember a few weeks back when I asked about my vitamins and heart palpitations? Well, imagine all that aspartate did it along with hormonal flux.

[Aaltrude]

decided to go back to Mercola's Multi-Plus(Mother's Day free shipping offer) as it was the only one I noticed that did not use aspartate, and used methylcobalamin, amongst other things. I did not react to Mercola vitamins, but I do notice that I cannot tolerate stevia. It gives me blinding migraines almost instantly!

Remember a few weeks back when I asked about my vitamins and heart palpitations? Well, imagine all that aspartate did it along with hormonal flux.

Interesting info about the Mercola multi - I must check it out. Thanks Emma.
I do not tolerate stevia either. I mostly use honey as a sweetener.
I get heart palpitations with most supplements too. Aspartate is one of the causes. After consultation with a natural practitioner, I have learnt it is because my liver detoxification systems are not working in balance.

[DizzyIzzy]

Aaltrude, was that an overactive phase 1 with underactive phase 2? Been doing heeeeeeeeaps of reading into that lately, it seems to explain a lot.


I can't take colostrum at night or I won't sleep... that's the only one I could add to what people have already said!

[Maurya]

I can't take colostrum at night or I won't sleep... that's the only one I could add to what people have already said!

Thanks for adding one more to my list!

[Maurya]

I figured that the higher dosage I was taking was sitting in my body fat, hence the insomnia reaction...
Something to consider. Very lean people perhaps can manage the larger doses, ya figure???

Hence my catch 22! Being an overly fat person leads to my desire to have sufficient energy to do more exercise, which requires being awake and alert. Any sort of "natural" means to get the old mojo working, however, seems immediately to result in the dreaded insomnia at night, and then the feeling of having been run over by a truck the next day. The body seems to have some lovely feedback mechanisms that conspire to keep me fat and lazy.

[mellowsong]

Hence my catch 22! Being an overly fat person leads to my desire to have sufficient energy to do more exercise, which requires being awake and alert. Any sort of "natural" means to get the old mojo working, however, seems immediately to result in the dreaded insomnia at night, and then the feeling of having been run over by a truck the next day. The body seems to have some lovely feedback mechanisms that conspire to keep me fat and lazy.

AMEN!!!

On an aside: I caught a bug from my grandkids so took 50,000 units Vitamin D the first day, then have been taking 10,000 for the last 5 days. I have not been sleeping and the other night, filling my supplement cups, this discussion hit me. I cut back down to my usual 5,000 and slept for 6 hours last night So, I've been saying it doesn't affect my sleeping, but apparently in higher doses it does!

[EmmaPeel]

Hence my catch 22! Being an overly fat person leads to my desire to have sufficient energy to do more exercise, which requires being awake and alert. Any sort of "natural" means to get the old mojo working, however, seems immediately to result in the dreaded insomnia at night, and then the feeling of having been run over by a truck the next day. The body seems to have some lovely feedback mechanisms that conspire to keep me fat and lazy.

AAAAAAAHHHHHH....!!!!!@! THAT'S ME! Holy crud...we are onto something here gals... is this a hormonal thingy or a getting long in the tooth thingy...??? When I was on modified work due to my back/neck injury this winter, I was unable to do the 3 times a week park walks I usually do in the snow. I tried to keep up some cardio by riding my stationary recumbant, which made my legs feel great, but I don't feel like it kept up the ole ticker...

Good news is that is took me only about 6 weeks to get back to where I was pre-injury...back in the Fall. I started small, like 2 km, then worked up to 4...currently working towards 5 before the weather gets stink'n hot.

You know, I was thinking I had a neuromuscular disease, because I felt like everytime I exercised for the first 4 weeks, I was so hyper that night that I couldn't sleep, then I would wake up feeling like a bulldozer ran over me...hmmmm....researching today....need to get more info....I have heard of this before...must access memory banks...hmmmm

[EmmaPeel]

AMEN!!!

On an aside: I caught a bug from my grandkids so took 50,000 units Vitamin D the first day, then have been taking 10,000 for the last 5 days. I have not been sleeping and the other night, filling my supplement cups, this discussion hit me. I cut back down to my usual 5,000 and slept for 6 hours last night So, I've been saying it doesn't affect my sleeping, but apparently in higher doses it does!

I knew it! See it wasn't in our imaginations! Wonder if Dr. M has figured this out? He prescribes huge amounts as standard dosages. Wonder how many new chubby insomniacs there are out there NOW ???

[Islander]

I check mercola.com regularly. Next time the D subject comes up (and you know it will), I'll mention these experiences.

[EmmaPeel]

I check mercola.com regularly. Next time the D subject comes up (and you know it will), I'll mention these experiences.

..heheheheeeeeeee.........