A multivitamin with breakfast, a calcium tablet after lunch, and magnesium before bed can feel like three completely separate health habits. Look more closely at the labels, however, and you may discover that several products contain the same nutrients and fortified foods can add even more. The National Institutes of Health advises supplement users to consider the total amount of nutrients they’re getting from food and different supplements rather than evaluating each bottle in isolation. That matters particularly for daily supplement intake involving vitamin D, calcium, and magnesium because each has recommended amounts or upper limits that consumers can easily misunderstand. Before automatically taking the same handful of pills tomorrow, spend five minutes figuring out what those numbers on the Supplement Facts panels actually add up to.
