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There's no doubt that a balanced diet is the best way to ensure that your body gets its required daily nutrient intake. But busy lifestyles mean that, sometimes, it takes more than just food to make this happen, which is where vitamins or multivitamins-an expert-approved, effective way to supplement your diet-come in. If you're considering introducing a vitamin into your routine, here's what the experts have to say about them, including the best time to take vitamins. Nutritionist Suman Agarwal says a multivitamin can be beneficial at any age. "Anyone whose vitamin and mineral requirements are not met through regular food should consult their healthcare provider and consider starting a multivitamin daily," she says. Dr Vishakha Shivdasani points out that different vitamins are key at certain stages in life. "For example, pregnant women require folic acid and iron; women require iron while menstruating; vegetarians are most often deficient in B12; if you're older, you might need calcium, and most of the population requires vitamin D." Agarwal says your multivitamins should include all B-complex vitamins, to bolster the nutrients that are typically depleted as a result of our modern lifestyles and diet. She also highlights the benefits of trace minerals like zinc, selenium, iron, and calcium, along with fat-soluble vitamins like A, D and E. You can also benefit from antioxidants like lycopene and astaxanthin. Iron and vitamin C work well together: vitamin C when taken with iron, enhances its absorption. And according to Dr Shivdasani, calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, and K2 work synergistically for bone health. While both zinc and copper are essential minerals, they compete for absorption. Taking high doses of zinc can interfere with copper absorption. Dr Shivdasani explains: "It's generally recommended that you take them at different times of the day, for example, zinc in the morning followed by copper in the afternoon or evening. Calcium can interfere with iron absorption if you take them at the same time, she added. Nature Made Multivitamin for Her Ritual Essential for Women Multivitamin 18+ One A Day Women's 50+ Complete Multivitamin New Chapter Every Woman's Once Daily Multivitamin 55+ The Nue Co. Women's Multivitamin Hum Nutrition Base Control Women's Multivitamin with IronShould you take a multivitamin?
What should your multivitamins contain?
When is the best time to take vitamins?
Multivitamins that you should pair together
Multivitamins that interfere