Drinking coffee and taking vitamins seems innocent enough, but the effects of coffee actually diminish the effects of the vitamins. Because coffee speeds up your gastrointestinal tract, everything you consume with coffee moves through your body faster, including vitamins. When the vitamins move through your body faster, your body cannot absorb them as well. Don’t fret, though, you can still drink your coffee and take your vitamins, just not at the same time.

Drink a cup of coffee and eat a snack or meal. In addition to your coffee, you should eat something before you take your vitamins, in case the vitamins cause an upset stomach.

Pour a glass of water 10 to 15 minutes after you drink the last of your coffee.

Swallow the vitamins with the glass of water. Waiting 10 to 15 minutes before taking the vitamins decreases the effects of the coffee, allowing your body to better absorb the vitamins.