You can take your vitamins every single day, but that doesn't necessarily mean your body is getting the most from them.

This is where bioavailability comes in.

It's one of the most important (but often overlooked) parts of supplementation. Because when it comes to vitamins and supplements, it's not just about what you take. It's also about how well your body can absorb and use it.

The good news? There are some simple things you can look out for when it comes to getting the most from your supplement routine.

In this blog, we're breaking down five red flags that your body may not be absorbing supplements as effectively as it could be, plus what you can do about it.

Here are five things that could mean your supplements aren't being absorbed as well as they could be. 

Taking all your supplements together might seem like the easiest option, but some nutrients don't play particularly nicely together.

For example, tea and coffee can reduce the absorption of iron. Certain minerals can also compete with each other for absorption when taken in larger amounts.

That doesn't mean you need to create a complicated timetable for your entire supplement cupboard. It just means it's worth checking the instructions for your individual supplements and thinking about what you're taking alongside them.

Our tip: Don't assume that taking everything at once is always the best option.

Not all forms of a nutrient are absorbed in exactly the same way.

Take magnesium, for example. There are several different forms of magnesium used in supplements, and they can have different absorption characteristics.

The same goes for other vitamins and minerals.

This is why it's worth looking beyond the headline dose when choosing a supplement. A product containing a huge amount of a nutrient isn't automatically better than one containing a smaller, well-formulated dose.

The form of the nutrient and the overall formulation can both play a role in how well your body can absorb it.

Our tip: Look at the form of the nutrient, not just the number of milligrams.

Some vitamins need dietary fat to be absorbed properly.

Vitamins A, D, E and K are known as fat-soluble vitamins, meaning they are absorbed alongside dietary fat.

So, if you have one or more of these supplements, taking it alongside a meal containing some healthy fat can help support absorption. Think avocado on toast, eggs, yoghurt, nuts, seeds or a meal cooked with olive oil.

Of course, always follow the instructions on your individual supplement, but it's a good reminder that when you take a supplement can sometimes matter just as much as what you're taking. Want to know more? Check out our guide for a simple breakdown of supplement timing.

Our tip: Check whether your supplement is best taken with food or on an empty stomach.

Your digestive system plays a huge role in nutrient absorption. After all, before your body can use the nutrients you're taking, they need to pass through your digestive system first.

Certain digestive conditions can affect how well the body absorbs nutrients. For example, conditions that affect fat digestion can make it harder for the body to absorb fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin D.

This doesn't mean that feeling bloated or having an upset stomach automatically means you're not absorbing your supplements. Digestive symptoms can have lots of different causes.

But if you have an ongoing digestive condition or persistent symptoms, it's worth speaking to your GP or a healthcare professional.

Our tip: Don't overlook your gut when thinking about your overall nutrient intake.

This is one of the biggest mistakes we see when it comes to supplements. It's easy to look at two products and assume that the one with the biggest number must be the best.

But more doesn't always mean better. The amount of a nutrient in a supplement is only one part of the picture. Its form, formulation and how your body absorbs it all matter too.

This is exactly why we believe supplement quality isn't just about putting more ingredients into a capsule. It's about making sure those ingredients are delivered in a way that helps your body make the most of them.

And this is where the concept of bioavailability becomes particularly important.

Our tip: Don't automatically go for the highest dose. Look at the form of the nutrient and how the supplement is designed to support absorption.

At Extracted, we don't just think about what goes into our supplements. We also think about how well your body can absorb it.

That's where ABSORB® comes in.

Our ABSORB® technology is designed to improve the bioavailability of key nutrients, essentially helping your body absorb more of them. 

In fact, ABSORB® can increase bioavailability by up to 5x, depending on the nutrient and formulation.

That's why we don't believe in simply packing our supplements with high doses of ingredients. We're really selective about what goes into each formula, choosing the best forms of each nutrient at clinically backed doses. 

We also look at how we can make the whole formula work harder. For example, our Vitamin D3 is paired with K2 to help support the bioavailability of vitamin D3.

Because it's not just about what's in your supplement - it's about how it's formulated to help your body make the most of it.