Lifestyle Trend (Food Supplements)

Take Supplements Without Tasting Coffee 

It’s improper to pop supplements while sipping coffee. But many make this common mistake. Health researches reveal that the chemical compounds in the beverage meddle with the nutrient compositions to leave an adverse impact on health. 

By PRAMITA BOSE

Perfect intake time

Patients are always advised to take iron supplements ideally on an empty stomach. “So if you take iron tablets early morning, then have your breakfast after an hour or so. This maximises iron absorption. Or else, you may take it in the afternoon at least a couple of hours before lunch time. Leave a time gap of minimum one to two hours between your iron intake and a cup of coffee,” dispenses Dr Murtaza S Bagwala, head of emergency medical services at Saifee Hospital in Mumbai.

Consuming calcium with a good meal improves its absorption quality. So having the element in the afternoon shows a better outcome. Magnesium intake is normally recommended at night before retiring to bed. A restful sleep helps relax the body and controls its depletion through urine during the daytime.

Vitamin D is best ingested with meals comprising heaps of dietary fat. “It is fine to have it with fatty meals either at lunch or dinner,” stresses the doctor.

B12 complex tablets like the Vitamin B12 alongside other B vitamins are energy-dense nutritional supplements that aid nerve function and promote red blood cell creation. It is apt to be taken in the morning to produce results as it switches on the energy button and puts the consumer in the active mode to negotiate the day ahead. It gives one a fresh and hopefully, a flying start.

For Vitamin C and other complexes, there is no fixed time to pop the pills. The supplement can be taken at any suitable time.

In general, medicos instruct to take supplements usually two hours after sipping the coffee. “Iron is most effective when consumed with vitamin C-rich food,” claims Dr. Amit Saraf, general physician, DNB coordinator and a specialist in internal medicine at Jupiter Hospital in Thane (Maharashtra).

Plain water is always the safest choice to complement a supplement. “Fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin D interact well with food,” inputs Dr Honey Savla, consultant internal medicine, Wockhardt Hospitals in Mumbai Central.

Reasons to falter

It is significant to find out the reason why a considerable number of people follow the habit of taking supplements with coffee or any other beverage.

“Spacing out supplements on the timetable and keeping the same away from your daily beverage quota looks a simple task but that definitely brings about an effective change in the long run,” believes Dr Savla.

Dr. Saraf thinks that this erroneous practice generally “occurs out of convenience as people are always in a hurry during mornings, prompted by their hectic schedules and the unavoidable rush hour. So, they incorrigibly defer the time of taking their supplements.”

The prevalent notion among public at large doesn’t comply with the concept of administering medicines while fasting, feel doctors. So, the easiest and the quickest route opted is through their everyday beverage, i.e., tea or coffee.

“Mostly people tend to skip their supplements to save time before reporting to their work or attending a business meeting or ahead of a teleconference or a video call. There is also lack of awareness regarding supplement intake on time and in absence of any accompanying food,” complains Dr Bagwala.

Food supplements not to take with coffee: 

Iron

Calcium

Magnesium

Vitamin D

Multivitamins like vitamin B1 thiamine (belongs to the water-soluble B-complex class)

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