Eye Care Tips: Vitamins & Supplements

Vitamins

  • Take vitamins with a meal. Your body uses digestive enzymes, when you consume food and these enhance absorption of nutrients.
  • Reduce fluids consumed at the same time as your meal to improve digestion. Iced drinks kill the digestive "fire" - so reduce these when you eat.
  • Sublingual and/or liquid vitamins are assimilated very quickly by the body. Capsules are the next fastest as far as rapid assimilation is concerned.
  • If you have trouble swallowing vitamin capsules, you can open them, and add the contents to yogurt or juice.
  • You may be already taking a multivitamin daily and have decided to add eye vitamins. If so, you can continue the multivitamin.
  • One enhancement that will stimulate digestive enzymes is a little apple cider vinegar just before you eat. Another digestive stimulant is a thin slice of ginger root.
  • For people who need to take antibiotics: between your antibiotic dosages take acidophilus supplements. Probiotics will enhance the build-up of the digestive tract's good bacteria which are damaged or killed by antibiotics. Elderly patients, especially, should take acidophilus regularly to support the digestive process.
  • Some vitamins and nutrients, such as lutein and vitamin A compete - so don't take them at the same time.

Enzymes

  • If you are supporting strong digestion by taking digestive enzymes, you generally should take them along with food. This also assists in reducing chronic inflammation.

  • However, some targeted enzymes such as Nattonkinase and Serrapeptase should generally be taken with an empty stomach. This is because their role is to enhance the break-down of debris in blood and tissue that contributes to inflammatory (including autoimmune) conditions.
  • If instead, you take them at mealtime, the behave as digestive enzymes operating in the digestive process rather than the debris cleansing role.

Herbs

  • Many homeopathic remedies and herbs, including Chinese herbal formulations are to be consumed between meals where they are more effective. Consult your healthcare provider for the best routine.