It’s All About Timing: When To Take Supplements

When to take supplements? Have you thought about the best time to take your supplements. In this post I share how I learned that convenience isn't always the best choice. Photo shows a clock face with the hands at 12.35.
Photography credit: petradr via Unsplash. This post contains affiliate links. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

I take quite a few different supplements to treat my fibromyalgia. Right now I take the Vital Plan Restore program*, Vital Plan’s HPA Balance*, echium seed oil capsules*, Biokult* (probiotic) and vitamin D*… that adds up to a lot of capsules each day.

Disclaimer: This post is not medical advice. I am simply sharing a little tip I have found useful. It won’t necessarily be beneficial for all supplements. Always consult your doctor before making changes to your health care regime.

There Isn’t Much Guidance ON WHen TO Take SUpplements

Whereas you are often told the best times to take medications, there is not always the same direction given with supplements. One of the suggestions I received during a recent health coaching session with Courtney was to try changing the times I took my supplements.

Previously I split my supplements into two daily doses- taken at breakfast and dinner. This made sense to me as it reduced the number of capsules down to a more manageable amount per dose.

Plus, I also find it best to take the capsules with food so taking them with breakfast and dinner seemed most convenient.

Trying Something Different

I followed this routine for months until Courtney suggested I try taking my second dose at lunchtime instead of dinner time. It never occurred to me to take the doses closer together, I just assumed morning and evening would be the best routine.

Although I always feel fatigued, it varies in severity throughout the day. There can, of course, be days where I am worse than others.

But typically I find it hard to get going first thing in the morning, I am at my best mid-morning and then my energy really dips in the afternoon. I then find I pick up again a little bit in the evenings.

Courtney’s suggestion made me question whether taking my supplements at dinner time was causing this little pick up of energy? I did wonder if taking my supplements earlier would help with the afternoon slump I feel, particularly the adaptogenic herbs*.

I began taking the second dose of supplements earlier in the day and I definitely feel like this is better suited to me.

The Change Better Suited Me

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t get any sudden bursts of energy or anything. However, for a long time my routine has been this: walk my dog in the morning with my mum, go to my mum’s for lunch and then my afternoons were spent in bed as by that time I was completely drained of energy.

There have still been days where I have needed to go and lie in bed (and I still have days where I am not able to go out for walks) but I haven’t felt as drained or as unwell.

Over the past 2-3 weeks, I have actually been able to chill out on the sofa and watch some TV shows or listen to music some days. I know that doesn’t sound like much but it is definitely a step in the right direction.

I just hope it continues and that this doesn’t turn out to be a coincidence and I am naturally going through a better period health wise.

It’s Worth Trying A Different Approach

Some supplements can be stimulating and, therefore, best taken earlier in the day. Others can have the opposite effect and are better to take before bedtime.

I guess what I have learned is that, when it comes to thinking about when to take supplements, a little experimentation can be helpful.

So if a supplement isn’t working as well as you had hoped it may be worth considering if you are taking it at the best time.


Have you thought about when the best time is to take your supplements? Or have you ever tried changing your routine and seeing if it changes how you feel? Let me know in the comments below.

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When to take supplements? In this blog post, I share how changing the time I took my supplements for Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue helped me.

 

 

Donna Grant

Hello, I'm Donna. I'm a Scottish artist who lives with chronic illness. My blog began in 2013 as a means for me to share and connect with others living with chronic illness. On my blog, I have shared my journey back to better health and the diagnoses I faced along the way. I now work as an artist and sell my products in my online shop. I continue to write about chronic illness on my blog and also share helpful posts about art, business and bullet journalling.

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4 Comments

  1. This is definitely an interesting topic for me, as I do take a few different supplements, both for my fibro, and cause I’m trying to figure out some current GI issues with my GI dr and a nutritionist at the time.
    I try to group them together as well, so it’s easier to take them, AND so that I’ll remember to get them all in during the day, but I’m also always open to any suggestions from any of my practitioners that might make my quality of life better in the long run, that might involve changing them up.
    Looking forward to seeing comments on this post, as I always am with all of your posts. 🙂

    1. Thanks Deanna. Remembering to take them is can be such an issue, I think that’s why keeping manageable doses is important. I do rely on others to remind me, along with alerts on my mobile etc. It is taking time to get used to taking them earlier in the day and I do need to keep them sat out so that I have a visual reminder. It might not be beneficial to do this with all supplements but time of day definitely worth thinking about 🙂

  2. I take so many supplements and my integrative dr gives me the schedule. Some of the things I take early, like Vitamin D, and Bs, which can be energizing. I save my Magnesium and cortisol-reducers for evening and bedtime. Sometimes I get tired of taking so many supplements, but I think they are helping.

    1. I’m glad the supplements are helping you and that you have found a schedule that works well for you. Yes, it can be difficult taking so many supplements and can feel like a bit of a chore at times but I like to visualise them helping me and doing my body good, which in turn helps me to feel positive about taking them 🙂

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