Pregnancy can make even simple routines feel more difficult.
A prenatal tablet may be easy to take one day and much harder the next. Nausea, food aversions, a sensitive gag reflex or simply not enjoying large tablets can all affect how consistently supplements are taken.
The routine can also become complicated. Alongside a prenatal multivitamin, some mums may take a separate omega-3 capsule, probiotic, protein powder or fibre supplement. Others may need additional iron, vitamin D or another nutrient based on their diet, blood test results or advice from a healthcare professional.
For mums who would prefer to drink their prenatal nutrition, a pregnancy smoothie offers another option.
Optivance Pregnancy Mummy Smoothie comes as a powder. Each sachet is mixed with water or milk and consumed as a smoothie.
It combines pregnancy vitamins and minerals with protein, fibre, algal DHA, probiotics and collagen—ingredients that are difficult to provide in meaningful amounts through a small tablet.
It does not replace a nutritious diet, prescribed supplements or personalised pregnancy care. Instead, it offers a practical way to bring several parts of a daily nutrition routine together.
Why does nutrition matter during pregnancy?
Your nutritional needs change during pregnancy because your body is supporting:
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Your own health and changing energy needs
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The growth of the placenta
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An increase in blood volume
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The growth and development of your baby
Folate and iodine are especially important, but they are not the only nutrients that matter.
Iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, protein, choline and omega-3 fats all play different roles. How much you need from food or supplements will depend on your diet, health history, blood test results and professional advice.
This is why pregnancy nutrition is rarely one-size-fits-all.
How is a prenatal smoothie different from a tablet?
A traditional prenatal tablet is designed to fit concentrated vitamins and minerals into a small daily dose.
A smoothie has much more physical volume. This allows it to provide nutrients needed in gram amounts, including protein and fibre, alongside vitamins and minerals needed in much smaller amounts.
| Traditional prenatal tablet | Pregnancy Mummy Smoothie | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Swallowed as a tablet or capsule | Powder mixed with water or milk |
| Vitamins and minerals | Usually included | Included |
| Folate and iodine | Commonly included | Included |
| DHA omega-3 | May require a separate capsule | Included from algae |
| Protein | Usually none | 15.1 g per serve |
| Fibre | Usually little or none | 4 g per serve |
| Probiotics | Often taken separately | 3 billion CFU per serve |
| Collagen | Generally not included | 4 g per serve |
| Preparation | Quick and compact | Must be shaken or blended |
| Flexibility | Fixed format | Flavour and consistency can be adjusted |
Neither format is automatically right for every mum.
Some women prefer the speed and portability of a tablet. Others prefer making prenatal nutrition part of breakfast or a daily smoothie routine.
What are the potential benefits of the smoothie format?
The benefit is not simply that the vitamins are consumed in a drink.
The larger serving format makes it possible to bring together nutrients that may otherwise require several different tablets, capsules or powders.
No large prenatal tablet to swallow
Some mums dislike swallowing tablets even before pregnancy. A sensitive gag reflex, nausea or heightened taste and smell sensitivity may make large tablets feel even less appealing.
A powdered smoothie provides another way to consume prenatal nutrition without swallowing a tablet or capsule.
It should not be presented as a treatment for nausea. However, some mums may find a cold drink that can be sipped slowly easier to manage than a large tablet.
More than vitamins and minerals
A tablet is an efficient way to provide nutrients needed in small amounts, such as folate, iodine and vitamin B12.
However, protein and fibre are needed in grams. A small tablet cannot realistically provide meaningful amounts of either.
The smoothie format has enough volume to include:
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Protein
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Fibre
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DHA omega-3
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Probiotics
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Collagen
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Vitamins and minerals
This makes it a broader nutrition product than a conventional prenatal multivitamin.
Fewer separate products to remember
A traditional prenatal routine may involve:
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A prenatal multivitamin
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A separate omega-3 capsule
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A probiotic
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A protein powder
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A fibre product
Pregnancy Mummy Smoothie brings these general nutrition categories together in one powdered serve.
This may help simplify the routine, although prescribed iron, high-dose folic acid, vitamin D or other individually recommended supplements may still be needed.
Flexible preparation
A tablet comes in one fixed form. A smoothie can be adjusted to suit changing preferences.
It can be:
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Mixed with water or milk
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Made thinner with additional liquid
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Served cold
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Shaken or blended
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Kept plain
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Mixed with tolerated fruit or yoghurt
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Sipped slowly rather than consumed quickly
This flexibility may be useful when appetite, taste preferences or food aversions change throughout pregnancy.
Fits into breakfast or snack time
Instead of being another supplement task to remember, the smoothie can become part of an existing eating routine.
It may be used alongside breakfast or as part of a snack.
Preparing it with milk, yoghurt, fruit, oats, nuts or seeds can make it more substantial, although the final nutritional content will depend on what is added.
A fish-free source of DHA
The DHA in Pregnancy Mummy Smoothie is derived from algae.
This provides a fish-free alternative to traditional fish-oil capsules and allows DHA to be included in the same serve as the prenatal vitamins, protein and fibre.
A few practical limitations
The smoothie format will not suit every mum.
It requires preparation, creates more volume than a tablet and may not appeal when appetite is very low. It also contains milk and soy, so it is not suitable for everyone.
Some women will still prefer the speed, portability and simplicity of a conventional prenatal tablet.
The most suitable option to choose is the one that meets the mum’s nutritional needs and fits realistically into a routine.
What is in Pregnancy Mummy Smoothie?
One serve provides:
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600 µg activated folate
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220 µg iodine
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13.5 mg iron
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10 µg vitamin D
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361 mg calcium
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2.6 µg vitamin B12
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15.1 g protein
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200 mg algal DHA
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4 g dietary fibre
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3 billion CFU probiotics
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4 g hydrolysed collagen
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Magnesium, zinc, selenium and other supporting nutrients
The powder can be mixed with approximately 250 mL of water or milk. More liquid can be added when a thinner consistency is preferred.
Here is why these ingredients matter during pregnancy.
Activated folate
Folate is a form of vitamin B9. It is needed for making DNA, producing new cells and supporting normal growth.
This is especially important during the early weeks of pregnancy, when the baby’s brain and spinal cord are beginning to develop.
Many traditional prenatal tablets use folic acid, the synthetic form of vitamin B9 commonly used in supplements and fortified foods.
Pregnancy Mummy Smoothie uses 5-MTHF, often called activated folate.
The main difference is how the body processes the two forms:
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Folic acid must be converted by the body before it enters the active folate pathway.
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5-MTHF is already provided in the active form and is directly absorbed.
This does not mean activated folate has been proven to prevent neural tube defects better than folic acid, the difference is the way they are absorbed.
Pregnancy Mummy Smoothie provides 600 µg of activated folate per serve.
Some women are advised to take a much higher dose of folic acid because of their medical history, medicines or other risk factors. A general prenatal product should not replace a dose prescribed by a healthcare professional.
Iodine
Iodine helps the thyroid gland produce thyroid hormones.
These hormones are important for normal growth and development, including development of the baby’s brain and nervous system.
Iodine requirements increase during pregnancy because the mother must support both her own thyroid function and the needs of her developing baby.
Pregnancy Mummy Smoothie provides 220 µg iodine per serve, matching the Australian pregnancy RDI for women aged 19 to 50.
Women with a thyroid condition should speak with their doctor before taking an iodine-containing supplement.
It is also important to check the total amount when using more than one prenatal product.
Iron
Iron is needed to make haemoglobin, the part of red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body.
During pregnancy, blood volume increases. This means the body needs more iron to support the mother and deliver oxygen to the developing baby.
Pregnancy Mummy Smoothie provides 13.5 mg iron per serve.
The Australian pregnancy RDI is 27 mg per day, and this includes iron from both food and supplements. It does not mean every pregnant woman needs exactly 27 mg from a supplement.
Iron requirements vary considerably. Some women may need additional iron based on blood tests, while others may not.
Mummy Smoothie contributes to daily iron intake, but it is not a treatment for iron deficiency or anaemia. Follow the advice of your doctor or maternity care provider if your iron levels are low.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and supports healthy bones.
During pregnancy, it contributes to the mother’s bone health as well as the baby’s developing skeleton.
Pregnancy Mummy Smoothie provides 10 µg vitamin D per serve.
Vitamin D levels can be influenced by sun exposure, skin pigmentation, clothing, lifestyle and existing vitamin D stores.
Women with low vitamin D may need an individually recommended supplement dose.
Calcium
Calcium is best known for helping maintain healthy bones and teeth. It is also involved in normal muscle, nerve and heart function.
During pregnancy, calcium is transferred to the developing baby as the skeleton grows and strengthens.
Pregnancy Mummy Smoothie provides 361 mg calcium per serve.
This makes a useful contribution to daily intake, but it should still be supported by calcium-rich foods such as:
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Milk
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Yoghurt
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Cheese
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Calcium-fortified milk alternatives
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Calcium-set tofu
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Tahini
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Suitable canned fish
Preparing the smoothie with milk can increase its total calcium content further.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 works closely with folate.
It is involved in DNA production, normal cell division, red blood cell formation and healthy nervous system function.
Pregnancy Mummy Smoothie provides 2.6 µg vitamin B12 per serve, matching the Australian pregnancy RDI for women aged 19 to 50.
Vitamin B12 occurs naturally mainly in animal-derived foods. Women following a vegan diet, or those who have difficulty absorbing vitamin B12, may need individual advice and additional supplementation.
Protein
Protein provides the amino acids the body uses to build and maintain tissues.
During pregnancy, protein contributes to:
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Maternal tissue growth
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Development of the placenta
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Growth of the baby
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Production of enzymes and hormones
Pregnancy Mummy Smoothie provides 15.1 g protein per serve—approximately one-quarter of the daily pregnancy RDI during the second and third trimesters.
Protein is one of the clearest differences between a prenatal smoothie and a tablet.
Vitamins and minerals can fit into a small tablet because they are needed in milligrams or micrograms. Protein is needed in grams, so a conventional prenatal tablet cannot provide a meaningful amount.
The smoothie still does not replace protein-rich meals. Useful food sources include:
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Eggs
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Dairy products
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Meat and poultry
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Fish
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Legumes
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Tofu
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Nuts and seeds
DHA omega-3
DHA is a long-chain omega-3 fat found in high concentrations in the brain and the retina of the eye.
During pregnancy, the developing baby receives DHA through the mother’s diet and nutrient stores.
Pregnancy Mummy Smoothie provides 200 mg DHA sourced from algae.
Algal DHA offers a fish-free source of omega-3 and allows it to be included in the same serve as the prenatal vitamins, protein and fibre.
Some conventional prenatal tablets do not contain DHA, which may mean taking a separate fish-oil or algae-based capsule.
Australia does not have a separate RDI for DHA alone. It is therefore more accurate to state the amount provided rather than claim a percentage of a DHA RDI.
Dietary fibre
Fibre helps support normal bowel function.
Constipation is common during pregnancy because hormonal changes can slow movement through the digestive system.
Pregnancy Mummy Smoothie provides 4 g dietary fibre per serve, including soluble fibre from partially hydrolysed guar gum.
Fibre works best as part of a routine that also includes:
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Enough fluid
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Fruit and vegetables
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Legumes
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Whole grains
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Nuts and seeds
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Regular movement when appropriate
The smoothie contributes to daily fibre intake but does not replace fibre-rich foods.
Probiotics
Probiotics are live microorganisms that may interact with the community of bacteria living in the digestive system. Probiotics support the gut microbiome—the community of microorganisms that naturally lives in the digestive system. A balanced gut environment plays a role in normal digestion and overall digestive wellbeing.
Pregnancy Mummy Smoothie contains three probiotic species:
- Lactiplantibacillus plantarum
- Bifidobacterium animalis
- Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus
Providing a combined 3 billion CFU per serve.
Collagen
Collagen is a type of protein that naturally contains amino acids such as glycine and proline.
Pregnancy Mummy Smoothie contains 4 g hydrolysed collagen as part of its protein blend.
Collagen is not an essential prenatal vitamin and there is no pregnancy RDI for it.
Collagen provides amino acids that the body can use as building blocks for proteins, including those found in connective tissues such as skin, cartilage and tendons.
Choline
Choline is involved in the structure of cell membranes, normal nerve signalling and processes that work alongside folate and vitamin B12.
Requirements increase during pregnancy because choline is used by maternal, placental and fetal tissues.
Pregnancy Mummy Smoothie contains 7 mg choline per serve.
This is only a small contribution towards the Australian pregnancy Adequate Intake of 440 mg per day.
Most choline will still need to come from food. Useful sources include:
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Eggs
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Meat
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Poultry
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Fish
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Dairy products
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Soy foods
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Legumes
Some women may benefit from a separate choline supplement, but this should be discussed with a healthcare professional.
Magnesium, zinc and selenium
Pregnancy Mummy Smoothie also provides supporting minerals.
Magnesium is involved in energy production and normal muscle and nerve function.
Zinc is needed for normal cell division, DNA production and growth.
Selenium forms part of antioxidant enzymes and is involved in normal thyroid hormone metabolism.
These nutrients contribute to the overall intake provided by a balanced diet.
Can a prenatal smoothie replace several supplements?
For some mums, it may help simplify the routine.
A traditional supplement routine could include:
-
A prenatal multivitamin
-
A separate DHA capsule
-
A probiotic
-
A protein powder
-
A fibre product
Pregnancy Mummy Smoothie brings these categories together in one powdered serve.
However, it may not replace:
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Prescribed high-dose folic acid
-
Additional iron recommended after blood testing
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A substantial choline supplement
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Vitamin D prescribed for low levels
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Vitamin B12 recommended for deficiency
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Other supplements prescribed for an individual need
The goal is to simplify general prenatal nutrition—not to suggest that every mum needs exactly the same supplements.
Could a smoothie be easier during morning sickness?
Every pregnancy is different.
Some women may find a cold drink easier to manage than a large tablet. Others may prefer plain foods, dry foods or an unflavoured supplement.
Mummy Smoothie can be:
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Mixed with extra water or milk
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Made thinner when preferred
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Served cold
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Sipped slowly
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Kept plain or blended with tolerated fruit
Speak with your healthcare professional if nausea or vomiting is severe, prevents you from keeping fluids down or affects your ability to eat and drink.
Is it a meal replacement?
Pregnancy Mummy Smoothie is designed to complement a healthy diet, not replace normal meals.
When prepared with water, it provides substantial protein and pregnancy nutrients but may not be substantial enough to count as a complete meal.
Its overall nutrition will change depending on what is added. Milk, yoghurt, fruit, oats, nuts or seeds can make it more filling and increase its energy and nutrient content.
Can it be taken with another prenatal vitamin?
Do not combine multiple prenatal products without checking the total nutrient amounts first.
Using two prenatal products may duplicate:
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Folate
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Iodine
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Iron
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Vitamin D
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Zinc
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Selenium
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Vitamin B6
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Vitamin B12
More is not always better. Some vitamins and minerals can be harmful when taken in excessive amounts.
Show your doctor, midwife, pharmacist or dietitian the labels of all supplements you are using.
A simpler approach to prenatal nutrition
Traditional prenatal tablets remain a practical option for many women. They are compact, quick and easy to carry.
Pregnancy Mummy Smoothie offers a different approach.
It combines prenatal vitamins and minerals with protein, fibre, algal DHA, probiotics and collagen in a powder that is mixed with water or milk and consumed as a smoothie.
Its main benefit is not simply that it is drinkable. The smoothie format allows meaningful amounts of protein and fibre to sit alongside prenatal vitamins, DHA and probiotics in one daily serve and be part of a daily nutrition routine.
That makes it broader than a conventional multivitamin tablet.
Who is Pregnancy Mummy Smoothie best suited for?
Pregnancy Mummy Smoothie is designed for mums who want a more complete and enjoyable alternative to a traditional tablet-only routine.
It may be particularly well suited to women who dislike swallowing large prenatal tablets, want to reduce the number of separate supplements they take and prefer to simplify several parts of their daily nutrition routine.
It can also suit busy mums who want pregnancy-specific vitamins and minerals and included protein, fibre, algal DHA, probiotics and collagen in one prepared drink.
The flavour and consistency can be adjusted with water or milk, making it easier to adapt as appetite and preferences change throughout pregnancy.
It is not intended to replace prescribed supplements or personalised maternity care. Women who have been advised to take high-dose folic acid, additional iron, vitamin D, vitamin B12 or another specific supplement should continue to follow the advice of their healthcare professional.
Pregnancy Mummy Smoothie is best understood as a more complete prenatal nutrition fro mums who want nourishment that fits into real life—not simply another tablet to remember.
This article provides general information only. Pregnancy nutrition and supplement needs vary. Speak with your doctor, midwife, pharmacist or accredited practising dietitian before changing supplements, particularly if you have a thyroid condition, low iron, dietary restrictions, take prescription medicines or have been advised to take high-dose folic acid.
