Have you ever taken your daily multivitamin , looked at the date on the bottle and realized it's expired? If you've ever wondered if this is a problem, we have the answer for you. Most bottles of vitamins and supplements have an expiration date, but what does that mean? Is it harmful to take vitamins after this date? It may seem like vitamins don't have an expiration date, but that doesn't mean you should ignore those dates on the bottle.
Here's everything you need to know about vitamin expiration dates and their effectiveness on that date.
Do vitamins expire?
There will likely be a date on your multivitamin bottles, but it's technically not an expiration date. It's because your vitamins don't end up as well as you think. Because vitamins don't become unsafe after their expiration date, the FDA doesn't even require them to put a date on the bottle, but most manufacturers do because there comes a time when vitamins lose their potency. This means that vitamins and minerals do not give you the full nutritional value you expect when they are expired.
Depending on the vitamins and supplements and their form, they lose potency at different rates. Pills and capsules tend to last longer than chewable vitamins.
It is best to store vitamins in a cool, dry place. The two worst - and most common - are the bathroom and the kitchen. Both rooms are hot and humid, which can accelerate the breakdown of vitamins. By placing the vitamins in a closet or in a place in the room that is not exposed to direct sunlight, you can prolong their effect.
Until when does "too late" mean?
Although vitamins do not expire and become dangerous, they do lose potency, which means they won't do anything for you. The manufacturers put dates on the bottles that the vitamin has reached that point, so if the expiration date is past on the bottle throw it away, as long as it doesn't make you sick I won't add it. you any value or
Although vitamins are not common, they can become moldy or smelly, especially if stored improperly. If your vitamins are in this state, throw them away immediately and get a new bottle. This is a situation where vitamins may not be safe for consumption due to contamination.
However, there are currently no documented cases of "expired" vitamins becoming toxic or dangerous to humans. Expired vitamins are just a waste of time.
How to get rid of expired vitamins
Once you've determined that your vitamins have passed the point of no return, it's important to dispose of them safely. Throwing it in the trash can be dangerous, as children or even pets can catch it. And while you might be tempted to flush them down the toilet, that's not the best idea either, as the old vitamins are still polluting your water.
The Food and Drug Administration recommends that packaged vitamins be poured into plastic containers and mixed with an "undesirable substance" such as coffee grounds or kitty litter. Seal the mixture in a bag and throw it in the trash.
You can also get them from your local drug collection center if you have vitamins. Although they are mainly used for prescription drugs, you can also put your vitamins in them so that you can manage them safely.
the end
Even though your vitamins don't technically expire, they will be useless after a while. Pay attention to the manufacturers of the dates you put on the bottles to know when the vitamins and supplements will stop working. As long as you store them correctly, they will last as long as they were designed to aid and assist your overall health.