Doctors Share the Best Time To Take a Nap and More to Improve Your Health

In some cases it's not just exactly what we do to stay healthy, it's when. That's right, some self-care routines can become much more helpful if timed just right. Here are 5 examples.

The best time to take your vitamins: With a meal.

It doesn't matter if it's breakfast, lunch, or dinner. If you swallow that supplement at the same time your body is absorbing nutrients from food, the minerals and vitamins in the pill will piggyback on the procedure, states Scott Renshaw, M.D., family medicine physician at Indiana University Health. "If your body is soaking up food it will be better at soaking up a dietary supplement," he describes. Coupling a pill with food may likewise make things more pleasant. For example, if your physician has you taking iron supplements due to the fact that you're pregnant and your iron stores are low-- popping the pill with a meal will assist avoid a few of this mineral's infamous side-effects: queasiness and constipation. Bear in mind, adds Dr. Renshaw, that it's essential to follow directions on any medication relating to timing: If the prescription states to take your medicine on an empty stomach, that's so your body will prioritize its absorption and you'll get the optimum dose, states Dr. Renshaw.

The best time to brush your teeth: Before you eat.

Surprise, scrubbing your choppers after a meal or treat, especially one high in acids or sugar can possibly damage teeth. That's due to the fact that the acids in these types of foods temporarily deteriorate the outer layer of teeth and brushing right away after might exacerbate this damage. Think about waiting 20 minutes after consuming to brush rather.

The very best time to arrange a mammogram: During the first week of your menstrual cycle.

Sarah Colvin, MD, a gynecologist at Indiana University Health, explains busts are less tender throughout this time, so the procedure will be less agonizing. It also might be more precise: "During week among your cycle, your breasts are less dense, making the X-ray pictures of them simpler to read," states Dr. Colvin. But, she adds, exactly what's most important is having actually the mammogram done, so do not let timing stop you from making an appointment if for some reason the best time according to your schedule for a mammogram falls outside of that first week.

The very best time to sleep: Mid afternoon.

Studies reveal daytime siesta has numerous prospective advantages. According to the National Sleep Foundation, these include much better performance and increased alertness. A nap can even assist keep you safe by lowering your threat of making mistakes-- while driving, for example. But for a nap to have these payoffs, it's essential to time it right, states Dr. Renshaw. There's a natural dip in body temperature level in the early afternoon, around 2 or 3 pm, that triggers us to end up being drowsy naturally. "Think about the timing of siestas in Latin American countries," he adds. Likewise key to an efficient nap: keeping it quick. "Research reveals brief naps are well. You can get the benefits in just 20 minutes without waking up and feeling too dazed to obtain on with your day immediately," Dr. Renshaw describes.

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