Vitamins and supplements lose their nutritive value over time. This can be prevented by storing them in an optimal environment.
Many people keep their vitamins and supplements in the kitchen or bathroom. However, these rooms are prone to heat and moisture.
To get the most out of your vitamins, read the storage instructions on the label carefully.
Refrigeration
Just like a delicate slice of cheesecake needs to be refrigerated for its perfect texture and taste, certain supplements often require refrigeration for shelf life to get optimal potency. These five liquid vitamins, such as children’s vitamin drops and syrup, can benefit from the cooler temps in your fridge.
Most liquid vitamins are formulated for easy absorption, making them faster and more effective than pills or tablets. However, they can still degrade over time if not properly stored. This is why it’s important to know how to store your vitamins so that they are as safe and effective as possible until their “best by” date.
In general, it’s best to keep most vitamins and supplements in a cool, dry place away from heat, moisture, and sunlight. This will help to maintain their potency and extend their shelf life. However, some supplements are more sensitive to humidity and require special storage conditions. This is especially true for liquid vitamins and other high-moisture formulations such as gummies or multivitamin tablets.
One of the most common mistakes people make when storing their vitamins is putting them in areas that are too humid for proper storage. For example, many people will keep their vitamins and supplements in the medicine cabinet in their bathroom. This can be a mistake because this is the same small space where you and your family shower, brush teeth, and even poop! This can cause the bottles to absorb and retain moisture, which can cause them to lose their potency.
Other unwise places for storage include the kitchen and the bedroom. Humidity in these spaces can increase the moisture content of your vitamins, which can also decrease their potency. In addition, kitchens tend to be busy areas that can generate a lot of heat and steam, which can damage the seals of some vitamin and supplement bottles. Therefore, it’s always best to use the recommended storage conditions on your products’ packaging.
Room Temperature
Vitamins and supplements should be stored in a cool, dark place to keep them from losing their potency before the expiration date. The shelf life of liquid vitamins can be affected by heat, light and humidity. The best way to keep your children’s liquid vitamins in the right conditions is to store them in a cool, dry and dark area like a linen closet or bedroom drawer. Some supplements may require refrigeration or other special storage, check the label for specifics.
Some kids’ liquid vitamins are specifically designed to be kept in the fridge such as probiotics or fish oils. These need to be refrigerated because they contain live microorganisms that can degrade if exposed to air, sunlight or heat. However, most liquid vitamins do not need to be refrigerated and can be stored in a cool, dark place like your kitchen or pantry.
Your child’s medicine cabinet may seem like the perfect place to store the bottles of their favorite supplements. The problem is that it is also the same place in which your family showers and poos! The hot, humid and crowded environment can affect the shelf life of the liquid vitamins.
You can still store the vitamins in the pantry, though, as this is a cooler and more stable environment than the steamy bathroom. You want to avoid placing them in direct sunlight as this can damage the bottle and affect the effectiveness of the vitamins.
Most children’s liquid vitamins come in dark and opaque bottles that help protect them from light exposure. However, it is still a good idea to keep them out of the sun because this can also reduce their potency before the expiration date. Once the liquid vitamins have passed their expiration date, there is no guarantee that they will have any additional health benefits, but they are likely safe to take unless they have a noticeable texture or odor. It is always best to be conservative with any health supplements, so only purchase them from trusted retailers and follow the manufacturer’s directions on how to store them.
Humidity
It’s important to pay close attention to the storage instructions on your supplement labels, as different vitamins can be affected differently by environmental factors. Some can be damaged by heat, while others may be affected by light or humidity. For example, Vitamin A is sensitive to sunlight, while Folic Acid can be destroyed by heat. The best place to store your liquid vitamins is in a cool, dry location with a tight seal.
The kitchen is generally not a good choice, as the temperature and humidity can be inconsistent throughout the day. The heat from cooking can also decrease the shelf life of your liquid vitamins. Instead, consider storing them in a dining room cabinet or cupboard, where they will be out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources.
In addition to a cool, dry environment, it’s important to keep your vitamins in their original containers. This will help you avoid transferring them to other containers, which can increase the amount of moisture in the air. If your supplements have desiccant packs, which act like tiny sponges to soak up moisture, make sure to keep them in the bottle.
Most of us take vitamin and mineral supplements to improve our health, but storing them properly can make all the difference in their effectiveness. By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your vitamins will last for their intended shelf-life and that you’ll be able to reap the benefits of all of the nutrients they contain.
Be sure to check your label for specific storing instructions, as some supplements require refrigeration, such as probiotics and fish oil. Also, if you notice that your vitamins are sour or have an unusual odor, they should be thrown away immediately. Never flush them down the toilet, as this can cause water contamination and put you and your family at risk of health issues. Lastly, don’t forget to always read the “best by” dates on your supplements and use them up before they expire. After all, your vitamins and supplements are working for you to support your health, so why would you want them to go bad?
Light
Some vitamins are more sensitive to light than others, which makes them more susceptible to degrading over time. For example, vitamin C and riboflavin are especially light-sensitive and will lose their potency over time when exposed to light. For this reason, it is best to store your liquid vitamins in the dark.
While the FDA does not require vitamin and dietary supplement manufacturers to include an expiration date on their products, many of them do voluntarily provide a “best before” or “use by” date on their bottles. When you see this date, it is generally a good idea to start shopping for a new bottle of vitamins or supplements. The average shelf life of liquid vitamins is two years, but you can maximize their shelf life by storing them properly.
In general, the kitchen is not the best place to store your vitamins, as humidity tends to be high in this area. Additionally, the air can be filled with vaporized fat from cooking and this moisture can settle on your vitamins.
If you decide to keep your vitamins in the refrigerator, make sure they are not next to any food or other ingredients that may spoil. Additionally, it is best to store your vitamins in a separate drawer or cabinet, so you don’t open and close them frequently. Opening and closing your vitamins can trap a small amount of moisture into the bottle each time.
A good way to test the quality of your vitamins is by examining them for moisture, brown spots and other signs of degrading. If you notice that a vitamin has an odd smell or color, or if it has started to clump or liquefy, it is probably best to discard it. You can safely dispose of expired vitamins by mixing them with coffee grounds or cat litter, or by searching online for a local drop-off location.
It is also important to ensure that your vitamins are stored in an opaque and dark container. This will help protect them from light and heat, which can degrade some vitamins. If your vitamins come in a clear plastic container, try adding a desiccant pack to the bottom of the bottle to absorb excess moisture. In addition, a good quality bottle will have a tight seal and a tamper-evident design.
