I'm curious to know what vitamin supplementation people are taking. Personally, I've always been a bit suspicious of things that come in little pills (or capsules, or whatever), and I haven't dropped dead of nutritional deficiencies yet. But with our soil becoming more and more depleted, and I can't afford to buy organic . . . and Atkins recommends supplementation . . . what do you guys think?

Rachel

HI, I can't believe no has answered your question...so I'll give you my 2 cents. I buy just a good multi-vitamin...(watch the ingredient list close), I try to get one with lots of Vit E and C. I've always taken Vitamin E....for my blood sugar and it's supposed to give you nice skin!! Next time I plan to buy multi-vitamins (soon), I'm going to get the ones at GNC. I was looking at them, and I think they're pretty good for the price.

I use a multi vitamin as well on and off. I occasionally use potassium as well when I go on induction since I tend to get fatigue the first few days.

Wa'il

I take a daily Adult Super-multi. I also take extra Calcium & Magnesium, vitamins C, E and in the winter, extra D.

1) Women may need to take supplemental calcium in order to meet the recommended daily amount of 1000 mg per day for premenopausal, and 1500 mg per day for post.

2) Some studies recommend the daily requirement for vitamin E to be 100 units. There is no way this amount could be acquired from food sources alone. (just as an aside, I know 2 cardiac surgeons who take 400 units daily themselves, and recommend this to their patients also)

3) Vitamin D is produced by the body in response to sunlight. During our bleak winters, it's hard to get enough sun!! That's why liquid milk (and skim milk powder) are fortified with vit.D. Note that cheese, cream, yogurt, etc are NOT made from fortified milk. The best food source is cold water fish liver (eg, cod or halibut). I'd rather take a capsule, thanks!!

Doreen

If you don't take the vitamin supplements, especially on Induction and OWL, you will not be getting enough vitamins and minerals.

So what?

1) You are not getting optimum health
2) Your weight loss will be slowed or stalled!

I don't see supplementation being an option at all. In fact, it is for the rest of your life.

I can't believe how many people decide to "ignore" this part of the Atkins / Protein Power plans.

Supplementation is not set out as an OPTION - it's part of the PLAN.

I agree that soils are depleted; don't assume organics are too expensive; in our area they are the same price mostly.

Soils have been depleted since 1933 (saw a US congessional report dated 1933 saying this ...)

I'm not saying finding a good supplement is easy - I had 3-4 tries before I got rid of "vitamin burp".

I have been taking the same brand of supplement since Jan 2001 and as long as the company stays afloat, I will take them for the rest of my life.

I emplore you to re-read Atkins and Eades plans again - they both did studies that showed that people lost weight FASTER and felt BETTER while they took supplements.

Tom.