Vitamin Help with Atkins please

[RedheadF]

Ok I have not been taking any vitamins. To tell the truth I have not read the book either but Im going to get it from the library as soon as it is available. I promise
But I have read his earlyer book. But I am still not sure what or how many vitamins to take. I have never taken vitamins before so I really have no CLUE where to start. If any one could just give me a kick in the right direction I would love you for life :D

[Nesaea]

I'm quite new at this, but I started by just taking a general multivitamin and a capsule containing evening primrose and fish oil (for essential fatty acids).

I understands Atkins recommends finding a multivitamin without iron.

If you are inclined you can buy them from Atkins, they are called Dieter's Basic #3 and Essential Fatty Acids I think. Don't know about relative cost, since they aren't available here.

If you want to go beyond that, he gets into specifics in the book, but I think those are his basic recommendations.

[TeriDoodle]

Yes, a good multi-vitamin is essential....for everyone, not just LCers! A calcium-magnesium supplement is also highly recommended.... adult women need 1200 mg of calcium/day and it's difficult to get that amount from food alone. It has also been shown to aid in weight loss. Note that most cal/mag supplements come in 333 mg/pill form....so you need to take 3 a day, preferably spread out throughout the day.

[DoubleD]

My basic supplements are Atkins Basic #3 and Atkins Essential Oils. I also take a calcium supplement, L-Tyrosine, COQ10, L-Carnitine, and Chromium. If I was going to go bare essentials it would the BASIC #3 and Essential oils. I take the others because they aid those of us with slow metabolisms. The L-Tyrosine helps to lower your appetite.

[Si Belle]

Nesaea, I don't remember anywhere in the book where it recommended NOT taking iron. I have been taking iron, maybe I should stop. My doctor had once asked me a while ago to take iron supplements because my iron level was so low, but now that I think of it, I did start putting on weight since I started taking these… Now that I am following the Atkins program< maybe my metabolism will be ok without iron supplement. What is your opinion on that? I am taking Evening Primrose oil, Calcium/Magnesium supplement, Vitamin C, A, E and other vitamins that I am lacking, when lacking them (according to fitday.com).

[Zuleikaa]

I take a ton of vitamins. I would recommend the GNC Mega Women's vitamins and take 1 pill 3 times a day. Three pills cover most of the recommended Atkins doses. Then take one each chromium picolate, calcium and fish oil, three times a day. That should cover the basics. That's 12 pills, plenty enough to start. You can add lpills to treat specific symptoms later if necessary.

[lkonzelman]

I take a centrum multi-vitamin and 2 psyllum husk fiber pills daily and I feel great.

[Nesaea]

Si Belle,

I don't have my Atkins book with me right now, so I can't quote the page number. It's the yellow cover, which is not the latest edition, so I'm not sure if he updated his advice.

From memory he recommends a good multivitamin and in brackets says 'without iron', but I don't recall any discussion of why you wouldn't want iron.

My understanding from reading the forum and other sites is that in large amounts, iron can be quite toxic. Women normally need extra because we are often dieting, and that usually means cutting out a lot of red meat.
On Atkins, we (can) eat a lot of red meat and veges, and therefore get enough iron without supplementation.

Personally though, I already had a standard womens multi with iron before I started Atkins and I am still taking that.
Perhaps when it runs out, I'll consider trying to find one without iron, or maybe if I manage to find out what the consequences of excess iron are I'll be motivated to switch.

[Skamito]

He definitely recommends a vitamin without iron. I think the reasoning is that you're already getting a sufficient amount of iron from meats and too much can indeed be toxic. On the other hand, if you don't eat enough meats rich in iron, it could be good for you to take.

[Si Belle]

That makes perfect sense! Thank you! No more iron supplements for me!

[acipenser]

I am also wondering about vitimins. I currently take a multi, potassium, and vit C daily. I am wondering about adding calcium. Are there any signs I can look for in myself that would suggest it is needed?

Thanks

[wflow68]

Hi all
My doc had told me to take 2-3 rolaids or tums to make sure I get my calcium (and helps with PMS).. should I still take these... I stopped when I started atkins a week ago... does anyone know off hand how many carbs in TUMS>... thanks
I take a multi-vitamin only.. I should add more but I hate taking pills. This way of eating is supposed to root back to the old days and they never took pills... :daze:
Wendy

[orchidday]

:( I hate swallowing pills too. I have an amazing gag reflex and can spit em half way across the room on a bad day!

But when I take them, I visualize myself wearing a new black cocktail dress! I seen to choke them down.

I take basic 3, fish oil, dieter's advantage, potassium, and calcium. I take extra vitamin C twice a week in addition. I have lost almost 30 pounds in three months and I feel great! I used fitday.com to figure out what I needed. I was suprised that I needed extra calcium..........so fit day can give you an idea of what you might need based on your indiviudal eating style.

Have a great week! Cindi

[NoSpectato]

When I called Atkins about vitamins, I was taking a prenatal vitamin. They told me that I needed to stop taking it and should look for a vitamin with little or no iron because I am getting more than enough in my diet.

I just take a simple multivitamin now and coral calcium which I love.

[wflow68]

How do I know if I am getting TO much Iron.. I read it could be toxic what is the side effect.. I also started taking calcium 1200 mgs a day and chromium picolate .. not sure exactly what that one is for... Can anyone help me with that...

What exactly does chromium p do for us...

THanks
Wendy