Fasting is simply the practice of eating for shorter periods of time and fasting for longer periods of time. In truth, this does not necessitate calorie reduction — yet it still works. Intermittent fasting can help you live longer by boosting your metabolism and lowering your insulin levels (3, 4, 5). It also improves concentration and is known to slow down the aging process in the body. 

It also encourages autophagy, the process by which your cells eliminate garbage that has accumulated (7, 8, 6, 1). Fasting may also trigger your body to produce a protein called fasting-induced adipose factor (FIAF), which tells your body that it’s time to start burning fat (9, 2). 

Fasting boosts your focus, burns body fat, and puts aging to shame. Fasting entails going without meals for a while, but what is the deal with vitamins and other supplements? Fasting supplements like vitamins can help your body shed fat for fuel, which may seem paradoxical. 

So, can vitamins be taken during fasting? It is debatable. Here’s the skinny on which supplements to consume and which to avoid, as well as the science behind how everything works. 

Considering The Odds Of Taking Vitamins Or Other Supplements During Fasting

It comes to the reason that if you’re consuming fewer calories through fasting, you’re also consuming fewer vitamins and nutrients. The length of your fast and whether you were lacking in any area before you started will determine whether or not that reduction is significant enough to harm your health. Additionally, many people who are fasting want to know if supplements count as food. Most specialists disagree, but the time of their administration is crucial. 

Consider that if you’re simply drinking water and/or black coffee while fasting, several vitamins, including B vitamins and zinc, might make you feel sick during fasting. If you’re going to take any of these, you should definitely save them for when you’re hungry. (And if you’re not sure, just wait.) 

Does Fasting Without Taking Vitamins Cause Deficiency Symptoms? 

Calorie restriction is the foundation of all forms of fasting. In general, we go on a fast to eat as little as possible and isolate ourselves from our normal routines. To break free from our most ingrained habits, such as eating. 

Vitamins and supplements are frequently used in our daily lives to alleviate guilt over poor nutrition. These supplements may unknowingly contribute to our daily stress of wondering if we fulfill excessive personal expectations.  Fasting entails consuming as little food as possible. 

In short, taking vitamins and supplements when fasting is usually unnecessary. The human organism is capable of managing a reduced food supply for one to two weeks in the absence of acute dietary deficits and barring conditions that prevent fasting. In reality, human history favors feast and famine periods, which is compatible with the health benefits of intermittent fasting. 

When Should You Take Vitamin And Other Supplements During Fasting? 

Some vitamins and supplements may have harmful health impacts if you have a health problem. Always check your doctor before adding any vitamins or supplements to your diet. 

To summarize, vitamins and supplements differ significantly in terms of their ability to break your fast. Some people are more prone than others to sabotage your weight loss goals if you choose this strategy. Overall, it’s critical to understand that good fasting does not necessitate supplementation unless you were already taking them before you began fasting. Always with your doctor before beginning a supplement regimen, and remember that more isn’t always better. 

To get the best effects, combine your diet with strenuous workouts and drink enough water. Plain water reduces hunger and appetite while also enhancing fat burning and boosting metabolism. Increasing your fluid intake will help you get closer to your weight loss target. Take the 30-day water challenge on your own to reap all of the benefits of simple water.

Checking Out The Best Sources Of Vitamins And Other Supplements To Take During Fasting

These supplements are better absorbed when taken with food. Others will help break fast, so keep them for when you eat. 

  • branched-chain and  L-glutamine amino acids are typically avoided while fasting and this is because they are capable of causing insulin levels to rise, causing you to exit ketosis. 
  • Omega-3 and Curcumin fatty acids – When taken with food, supplements like Bulletproof Omega Krill Complex and Bulletproof Curcumin Max are simpler to absorb. As a result, consume them during your window for eating. 
  • Vanadium and Chromium are minerals that can cause sugar levels in your blood to drop too low during fasting. Hypoglycemia, or reduced blood sugar and low energy levels, can occur if your insulin levels drop. Even mild hypoglycemia might make it difficult to adjust and manage your moods. When you finish your fast, take these nutrients. 
  • Vitamin E, vitamin D, and multivitamins containing fat-soluble components all fall into this group. Because these vitamins do not dissolve in water, they must be taken with food. Check the different directions positioned on the label if you’re unsure. Consume a softgel daily alongside eating, according to Bulletproof Vitamins A-D-K. 

Gummy vitamins are sweetened and produced with gelatin, containing protein, thus they’ll most likely break your fast. 

  • Magnesium- Taking a supplement for magnesium during fasting can cause stomach distress in some people. 
  • Protein powder – Either collagen protein or whey, any kind of protein powder that comprises calories and generates an insulin reaction breaks fast. So reserve the protein powder for when you’re hungry. 
  • Copper and Zinc – these minerals perform better together, they’re frequently mixed in tablet form. With food, take Zinc covered with Copper. 

The right multivitamin can also give you all the vitamins and minerals you need to keep you strong while fasting. If you need help finding the right type of multivitamin for your needs, check out this article by Performance Lab called: Best Multivitamin for Men 2023. 

Final Thoughts 

If at all feasible, refill your electrolytes while continuing to take your vitamins. Fasting for prolonged periods of time may necessitate supplements, but most importantly, pay attention to how you feel and let your doctor know you’re fasting. 

When you do eat, make sure to eat a variety of foods or follow a diet like the Mediterranean diet (a lifestyle shift, not a fad diet), which has been linked to a lower risk of a variety of health problems.