Question:
I know we aren't supposed to take iron and vit C with anything w/in 2 hrs,

but can we take our iron with a protein shake that has powdered milk in it. Maybe I should just make the protein sheke with water when I am taking my iron. I am unsure about this, becuase I think you aren't supposed to take iron w/milk products. I am thinking about taking my iron 1st thing in the am, then wait 2 hrs before taking other supplements. Is this a good idea. Any/all comments would be appreciated. Oh and one more thing, does Calcium (and Vit D if we take it) have to be in chewable form. I have been taking it in Cal citrate tabs w/Vit D added that are just in pill form that you swallow. I know some people take Centrum as a multi, and they aren't chewable. Can we take regular vitamins after a certain length of time and still have labs turn out O.K.?    — bufordslipstick (posted on April 20, 2004)

April 20, 2004
You're right that iron cannot be taken with dairy (or caffeine or whole grains). Not all irons need to be taken on empty, depends on what you've got. But iron + C need to be alone together for at least an hour. Calcium + D doesn't have to be chewable, but it has to be citrate form of calcium. I've never used the chewable for the multi. My multi melts down in a few minutes in saliva water. And I'm very distal. If anybody was not going to be able to extract an element, it'd be me. But I do two multis a day
   — vitalady

April 21, 2004
Hi Rebecca, I'm only 5 weeks out, so want to be careful not to be giving to much advice just yet, but I think I'm safe not being too big for my britches on this one (oh, I had to say the big for britches thing, didn't I?) BUT I DIGRESS. Despite labs showing no problems with blood sugar, for years now, I've gotten up AT LEAST 3 times a night to go to the bathroom. I reasoned one of these times would be optimum to take my Iron and Vit C - they're sure to find an empty stomach in those wee hours, and it's one more round of vitamins I don't have to figure in during the day, when we're trying not to cross this one with that one, etc. I just set out my 2, Vitalady Tender Irons out with one of her 500 mg. Vitamin C, a glass of water, fumble for them in the dark, down them, and that's that. Pam Cerda
   — pam C.

April 21, 2004
Just a thought... you could get a sublingual iron complex that you hold under your tongue for 30 seconds. Then you don't have to worry about when to take it or how. The one I use is Natures Bounty. I got it from Walgreens, I think. I've also seen it at Walmart. It's got 1200 mcg of b12, B6, niacin, vitamin c, and b6. Hope this helps!
   — LMCLILLY

April 21, 2004
Thanks for all the good info. I knew I could count on ya'll. The middle of the night taking of iron sounds really smart. I'll try it, and I really am going to get some of the other iron with added supplements in it that is sub-ling. I will see about getting it after I run out of the iron I have already bought. You all are the greatest!!!
   — bufordslipstick