Vitamin question

[Rosebud]

This question may have been answered before but I've been lookin' and not findin'...
Firstly, do I really need to supplement? Dr Atkins says that on his diet (WOE) one should receive all necessary nutrients. Huh?
I know he then says supplementation is to make up for previous dietary deficiencies but my diet wasn't previously lacking in anything, there was just too much of everything!
Anyways, partly because I'm feeling very low in energy, I bit the bullet and bought a multivitamin yesterday.
Alas! I read the label and it seemed to provide lots of goodies but it was only after I got home that I read the little zinger in fine print at the bottom.
"This product contains glucose and sucrose."
So my second question is: Is that teeny bit of sugar in each tablet acceptable (my SO can't see a prob) or should I stick to sugar free?

[agonycat]

Rosebud,

Let me see if I can answer your questions.

The reason it is recommended you take supplements and multivitamins is the diet itself.

Low carb diets are highly duiretic. You lose a ton of water on them and that is why we recommend drinking 64 oz plus 8 oz for every 25 pounds you want to lose. Keeping the body hydrated makes it function more easily. So because of all the water loss, vitamins and minerals get flushed out faster. So getting them in your food just isn't enough while trying to lose.

Once you get to maintenance then you are eating more and not flushing out so much water.

About sweeteners:
It's all about insulin. Glucose and sucrose are big no no's. If anything go with a sugar free vitamin. If your body is producing insulin, then it is going to store fat. Which makes the diet null and void.

Hope this helps :)

[LC Sponge]

Hi Rosebud

If you look for a no-additive multi vitamin to get you through induction, put your glucose-containing ones on a shelf. You can always either use them up later (there won't be enough glucose in them to cause you grief once you are well on your way), or give them away. If you already have diabetic issues, then give them away.

Induction is a critical time, so if you can stay on track, that's best.

[Rosebud]

Thanks Agonycat and LC Sponge.
As I write I have just finished my lunch with which I swallowed a completely additive free multivitamin.
I have also just started taking (ahem) psyllium husks.
Not something I've ever needed before...

[ezandreth]

Hi Rosebud,
If you find your requirement for the above-mentioned to be, ahem, intense, try alternating your multi-vitamin with one that contains no iron. Or switch to one with no iron in it at all.
I was incredibly, ahem, until someone told me this and it fixed the problem virtually overnight. I was putting it down to lack of fibre but that was a total red herring. It was too much iron. Situation has been normal since I made this change.
Zanny
ps - Hi Oz! I used to live in Tasmania!

[CarrieAnn8]

I take my multi and i also take flax seed oil. that seems to help with some...ahem...issues.

Carrie-Ann

[Rosebud]

Thanks Ezandreth and CarrieAnn.
This is such a delicate subject isn't it? :p
I can't blame the vitamins this time, the err, problem, began before I'd started taking them.
Mind you I'm taking your advice(es?) on board with grateful thanks.
I'll just get back to reading my favourite book now:
"The Constipated Clergyman", by Pastor Hardy.
:D :D :D :D :D

[Snoopy]

DW & I have been taking two psillium tabs three times daily (lots of water w/that, or else...); seems to do the trick

[snkhoward]

The Atkin's brand vitamins are made specifically for this woe and contain no starch or sugars. They also aren't anymore expensive than other good brands of vitamins. You can get them at the atkins site or you can skip the shipping and get them at GNC.

[Rosebud]

Thanks for your reply, SNK, but as I have posted above, I now have some additive free multis.
I live in Australia, where our dollar is worth about ½ the US$ so ordering over the net becomes very expensive!
I've no idea what GNC is, I presume an American company.
Hey, looking at your stats, you're going great guns, Congratulations!

[K-Louise]

Hi Rosebud

GNC Livewell is a chain of heath food stores, and they have just started spreading their way through Victoria and NSW (but I don't think in Qld yet)

Squeezle (who is also in Brisbane), gave me the URL to a great site for vitamins in Australia (they are in Sydney). if you click on each product it will tell you what is in it. They seem to be free of all additives, reasonable price, and she says delivery is always reliable (a couple of days).

Here is the URL if you are interested:

www.healthstream.com.au
Hilton Healthstream

Cheers
Kim