Originally Posted by joefalcone89
Yeah thats really good advice, thanks for that!! On all of the supplements I’ve got (Lethicin, L Arginine, Zinc, Pygeum and Damiana) they all say ‘preferably with meals’ - so it doesn’t necessarily state it MUST be taken with a meal. Will they work better on an empty stomach do you think? I’ve read an empty stomach is 2 hours before eating, or 2 hours after eating?
The reason they say “preferably with meals” is because that particular supplement can be hard on the stomach. In these cases it really is best to take them with meals; however, I have not always been diligent in doing so. When the case arises that I cannot take them with meals, I’ll just take them later with at least 500ml of water. This amount of water will dilute the supplement enough so that it does not agitate my stomach. I don’t think I would say they work better on an empty stomach or full stomach, the manufacturer is just trying to protect your stomach lining by telling you to take them with food, and rightfully so. However, if taken with food, the food in the stomach will absorb some of it, which, again, protects your stomach. An empty stomach is at least 2 hours before, or no sooner than 2 hrs., after eating. Consider getting up in the morning, you haven’t eaten all night, you could actually take your morning pills if you happen to get up in the middle of the night. In other words, if you go to bed at midnight, and wake up at 2 AM, and haven’t eaten since 9PM, you could take your “before meals” pills and go back to bed. But what if you don’t do that? Can you still take the supplements when you get up at say, 6AM before breakfast at 6:30AM? Yes. I’ve been told by people in the medical industry that I can take pills about 20 minutes before eating in the morning. In this case, my stomach is empty and whatever I take will get absorbed, or close to it, before I eat breakfast. So I’ll take my morning pills and then take a shower, or use that time to do my 20 - 30 min. morning meditation, then take a shower. By that time, at least 30 min, the dose is fairly absorbed before breakfast. And if I happen to miss my “before meals” dose, what I’ll do is eat, then take my “after meal” dose, and then two hours later I’ll take my “before meals” dose. Sometimes you have to use your noggin if you get off schedule. Like right now, the time is 6:20 PM, i just had dinner, but I forgot to take my “before meals” dose, so after dinner I took my “after meals” dose, and I will take my “before meals” dose later. I hope this helps, I know I kind of rambled there, but I wanted to help you understand.