Living well and being healthy are priorities for a lot of people. It's a normal goal to want to keep your body in good condition. While this starts with the basics of exercise and diet, getting supplements can also help. Getting the right mix of nutrients can support your health in a simple way, and it's easier than ever to get a combination that's made just for you.

Finding the Right Vitamin Mix

According to the CDC, about half of Americans 20 years old and above take some kind of multivitamin supplement. In many cases, these are one-a-day formulas that aim to cover a wide variety of nutritional needs with one pill. They are a nice backup for people who may not get as many vitamins and minerals as they would like from their diets.

Supplements can be even more useful when you explore personalized vitamins. These combinations are designed to provide the right balance of nutrients for each person, based on factors such as their age, gender, lifestyle, and any existing health conditions. 

Traditional vitamins are often based on the average nutritional requirements of a large population, but these averages may not necessarily reflect the needs of each individual. For example, a person who is pregnant or has a chronic health condition may have different nutritional requirements than the general population.

When the body receives a balanced and adequate supply of nutrients, it is better able to absorb and utilize them effectively. Traditional vitamins often contain high doses of certain nutrients, which can overwhelm the body's ability to absorb them. In contrast, personalized vitamins are carefully designed to provide the right balance of nutrients, in the right amounts, to support the body's natural processes and optimize nutrient absorption.

Making the Most of Supplements

If you are looking at supplements as a way to support your body, you want to make sure you get the most out of each dose. After all, you are making an investment into your well-being and want to see it pay off as much as possible.

One way to help your multivitamin be the most effective is to take it with the right foods. The body processes many nutrients better in the presence of other important substances. Several important vitamins are fat-soluble, so taking them with foods that have a decent amount of fat content will allow your body to get the biggest benefit from your multivitamin.

You may also want to avoid certain things when you take your vitamins. Caffeine, alcohol and even wheat can reduce the absorption of key vitamins and minerals. Check how these common substances interact with the key nutrients you are trying to get the most of to see if you need to take any extra precautions.

Timing also plays a factor in how effective personalized vitamins are. Your body's metabolism moves at different speeds throughout the day and handles some nutrients better than others. According to MedicineNet.com, it's best to take many vitamins earlier in the day while taking calcium and other minerals at later times.

Get Support for Your Overall Health

Making better choices for your health can seem complicated but you can start with simple steps to take care of yourself. Begin with a good foundation, including regular physical activity and a well-rounded diet that accounts for most of the major nutrients you need.

If you think you aren't getting all of the vitamins and minerals your body requires, check in with your doctor to see if you have any deficiencies. Identifying these allows you to see how a multivitamin could help you and if you would benefit from a custom mix with specific levels of certain nutrients.

Being proactive about your nutrition can allow you to stay on top of your health and feel strong and energetic more often. Find the right nutrients for your lifestyle and make the most of the added dose of the important building blocks that keep your body running well.