When you’ve spent good money on nutritionals, you want to ensure they don’t degrade and that they remain effective. It makes a difference where you store your vitamins and supplements.
Forget the Fridge
For optimal potency, vitamins and other dietary supplements should be stored in a cool and dry place. A refrigerator is certainly cool, but it’s also full of moisture, which can reduce vitamins’ shelf life and effectiveness. The exceptions to this rule are supplements whose packaging specifically recommends refrigeration, for example some probiotics.
Bypass the Bathroom
Storing your vitamins in the same small room where you shower means exposing them to heat and humidity on a daily (or at least frequent) basis, even if they’re stashed away in what is usually referred to as the medicine cabinet.
Keep Away from the Kitchen
Since vitamins are often taken with food, it seems logical to keep them in the kitchen. The problem is that the temperature and humidity in your kitchen rises and falls as you use the oven, stovetop and dishwasher. If storing your vitamins in close proximity to your food is important, opt for the dining room or breakfast nook instead.
Think High and Dry
Nutritional supplements are potentially poisonous when taken in high doses. Store them as you would any medication, in their original containers and out of reach of children. Be sure to avoid any cabinets or shelves that are close to windows or heating where temperature and humidity might fluctuate.
