Nature Made Blog

It’s a scorching summer so far, and that means it is super important to stay cool and hydrated in order to not let yourself succumb to heatstroke or worse. Here’s a list of tips that you can use to stay cool this summer.

• Drink Up – Make sure you drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. You don’t even have to be doing any thing strenuous in the heat for your body to need water. I try to carry a sturdy, refillable bottle of water with me whenever I’m on the go. That way I know I will always get enough fluid and I don’t have to buy a plastic water bottle every time I get thirsty. Remember to avoid alcohol or drinks with a lot of caffeine, as they will only make you more dehydrated.

• Dress Right – Wearing a straw hat might sound weird, but it works best to let heat escape while also shielding you from the sun.  Also, wearing light colored and loose fitting clothes can help deflect the sun and the heat. Be careful about thin materials, though. On a recent boat trip, I thought I’d be fine to just wear a white shirt without any sunscreen. Boy was I wrong.

• Stay Indoors – If you don’t have to be out in the heat, then stay inside. Avoid the hottest times of the day, around noon and a few hours before and after. If you must be outside, try to avoid spending too much time in the direct sunlight. Help stay cool by dousing a bandana in some cool water to wear around your neck. Fashion can be sacrificed for function when it comes to beating the heat.

• Don’t Overexert Yourself – If you’re an outdoorsy person and love to go play and exercise in the sun, try to do so when the sun is not at its peak. Early morning or late afternoon workouts are better choices for exercising outdoors. Nonetheless, overexertion can lead to cramps, heat stroke, or exhaustion. Don’t push yourself too hard in the heat – it’s just not worth it.

-Jeremy

Taking vitamins is an important way to boost your nutritional intake. The timing of when we take vitamins, though, can be as vital as the fact that we take them. To ensure that we get the most out of vitamins and supplements when is the best time to take them? We asked Melissa Dorval, RD, to help us understand when the best time is to take vitamins and supplements.

Nature Made: Why should certain vitamins be taken at different times of the day?

Melissa Dorval: Some vitamins and supplements should be taken with food or a meal for best absorption while you may need to take others on an empty stomach.

NM: What vitamins should be taken in the morning, before I`ve eaten?

Dorval: We recommend that you take SAM-e on an empty stomach at least 30 minutes before you consume food. This is most convenient when you first wake up in the morning, as your stomach is most empty at this time. If you are taking a second dose of this product, try to find a time that your stomach is most empty—at least one hour after you`ve consumed food—and wait at least 30 minutes before you eat after you`ve taken your afternoon dose. Remember not to take SAM-e too close to bedtime, as it may increase your energy level which may interfere with a restful sleep.

NM: Which vitamins should be taken with breakfast?

Dorval: Most all of your vitamins can be taken with your breakfast meal. This includes your daily multivitamin, B-Complex, Vitamin E, and Vitamin C in addition to others. Not only will this help to start your day off right, but the breakfast meal is often a convenient time to remember to take your vitamins, as many of us consume our morning meal in our homes. In addition, the B vitamins in your multi and B-complex will help to convert food to energy, which can help you start your day off right. There is one caveat, however. We do not recommend taking Calcium along with your multivitamin if your multi contains iron. The calcium may interfere with the iron`s absorption. If you take an iron containing multivitamin with your breakfast meal, take your calcium with the other meals you consume throughout the day, such as lunch and dinner. You may also be interested to know that vitamin C helps increase the absorption of iron, so keep drinking your orange juice for breakfast or take a vitamin C supplement with your iron.

NM: What vitamins should be taken with, before and after lunch?

Dorval: If lunch is a more convenient time for you to take your vitamins, then go ahead and consume your multivitamin, B-complex, Vitamin E, Vitamin C or any other vitamins at this time. The most important point is that you consume your vitamins and supplements with food, to help with proper dissolution and absorption. If it is easier for you to remember to take your vitamins at lunch, then go ahead and do so. Once again, do not consume an iron containing multivitamin along with a calcium supplement. Many multivitamins do contain a small amount of calcium. The iron in the multi should not affect this small amount of calcium.

NM: What vitamins should be taken before, after or during dinner?

Dorval: Calcium supplements can be taken with dinner, or hours after dinner before bed. Supplemental calcium is best in smaller, more frequent doses to enhance absorption. The form of calcium you are taking determines if you should take it with a meal or snack, or on an empty stomach. Calcium carbonate requires the presence of food for best absorption. Your calcium carbonate supplement may be taken with dinner, as well as earlier in the day with another meal such as lunch. On the other hand, calcium citrate should bet taken on an empty stomach for best absorption. Therefore, you can take calcium citrate at bedtime on an empty stomach, and also in between meals during the day. We would hope that you would have taken your other vitamins earlier in the day, rather than waiting for your dinner meal. You should enjoy the benefits of the vitamins during your waking hours!

Did you know that about 70% of the US population has low levels of vitamin D? That can come as quite a surprise to you if you thought that drinking milk or taking a multivitamin was enough to make sure your vitamin D bases were covered. If you are the head of the household and concerned that your children aren’t getting their daily allowance of vitamin D, then our new product, Nature Made Chewable D could be a great solution for you.

Tablets may be difficult to swallow for some individuals, including children and the elderly. However, that is not an issue with the new Nature Made Chewable D. In fact, Nature Made Chewable D is great for the whole family and comes in a delicious orange flavor. Each chewable D tablet is 400IU, which is the recommended dosage for children. Adults can take the suggested 1000-2000 IU, based on their individual vitamin D needs.

Vitamin D is an especially important supplement for children, because 70% of kids in the U.S. are low in vitamin D. We assume children get plenty of vitamin D, but many kids today are stuck inside in front of computer screens or televisions instead of outdoors playing, where sunlight provides natural vitamin D. Nature Made Chewable D is an easy way for your kids to meet their daily recommended vitamin D intake per the guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Each 400IU tablet contains the vitamin D equivalent of 4 cups of milk. Not only is Nature Made the #1 Pharmacists recommended brand, it’s also 100% D3, which is more effective at maintaining your vitamin D level because it lasts longer in the body.

Nature Made is currently offering a free trial size sample of the new 400IU Chewable D. Come get your free sample while supplies last!

-Jeremy