Why Atkins suggests ZERO iron multi-vitamine?
 

Hi Folks,

On the Atkins website they strongly recommend taking multi-vitamine
supplement while low carbing.

Why is that? What are the consequences of ignoring this recommendation?
i.e taking multi-vitamine with iron. Or not even taking any multi-vitamine?

Thanks,

J.

"John E" writes:
Why is that? What are the consequences of ignoring this
recommendation? i.e taking multi-vitamine with iron.

Low carb diets have more iron anyway (more meat) so additional iron
isn't needed. In fact, too much dietary iron can cause its own
problems.

Or not even taking any multi-vitamine?

Unless you're really careful about balancing your diet for proper
micronutrition, you end up with a vitamin deficiency. *Everyone*
should take a daily multivitamin of some sort.

DJ Delorie wrote:
| "John E" writes:
|| Why is that? What are the consequences of ignoring this
|| recommendation? i.e taking multi-vitamine with iron.
|
| Low carb diets have more iron anyway (more meat) so additional iron
| isn't needed. In fact, too much dietary iron can cause its own
| problems.

Not necessarily. I don't eat any more meat on Atkins than I did prior to
low carb. I just eat less starches and no sugar. Low carb is not the
equivalent of high protein; this is the myth that perpetuates the image of
low carbers with kidney failure, gout, etc.

My diet is high-fat/mnoiderate protein/low-carb. Althought the concept of
eating high-fat will give more undereducated people conniptions than the
thought of high protein, I guess.

--
Peter
270/215/180
Before/Current Pix:
http://users.thelink.net/marengo/wei...htlosspix.html

DJ Delorie wrote:
| "John E" writes:
|| Why is that? What are the consequences of ignoring this
|| recommendation? i.e taking multi-vitamine with iron.
|
| Low carb diets have more iron anyway (more meat) so additional iron
| isn't needed. In fact, too much dietary iron can cause its own
| problems.

Not necessarily. I don't eat any more meat on Atkins than I did prior to
low carb. I just eat less starches and no sugar. Low carb is not the
equivalent of high protein; this is the myth that perpetuates the image of
low carbers with kidney failure, gout, etc.

My diet is high-fat/mnoiderate protein/low-carb. Althought the concept of
eating high-fat will give more undereducated people conniptions than the
thought of high protein, I guess.

--
Peter
270/215/180
Before/Current Pix:
http://users.thelink.net/marengo/wei...htlosspix.html

"John E" wrote:

Hi Folks,

On the Atkins website they strongly recommend taking multi-vitamine
supplement while low carbing.

Why is that? What are the consequences of ignoring this recommendation?
i.e taking multi-vitamine with iron. Or not even taking any multi-vitamine?

Thanks,

J.


As a male, you wouldn't normally take an iron supplement whether on an
LC diet or not. Women sometimes need an iron supplement, but a guy
wouldn't take extra iron unless it was specifically recommend by a
doctor. Maybe elderly guys might need extra iron.

"John E" wrote:

Hi Folks,

On the Atkins website they strongly recommend taking multi-vitamine
supplement while low carbing.

Why is that? What are the consequences of ignoring this recommendation?
i.e taking multi-vitamine with iron. Or not even taking any multi-vitamine?

Thanks,

J.


As a male, you wouldn't normally take an iron supplement whether on an
LC diet or not. Women sometimes need an iron supplement, but a guy
wouldn't take extra iron unless it was specifically recommend by a
doctor. Maybe elderly guys might need extra iron.

"DJ Delorie" wrote in message
...

Low carb diets have more iron anyway (more meat) so additional iron
isn't needed. In fact, too much dietary iron can cause its own
problems.

Actually, these days most experts recommend NOT taking iron-containing
supplements unless you have been diagnosed with low iron stores. Some OK
iron-containing multivitamins for preganant, nursing, and menstruating
females. People on standard diets, including a low-carb diet, should not
typically be in danger of low iron stores from dietary causes.

Unless you're really careful about balancing your diet for proper
micronutrition, you end up with a vitamin deficiency. *Everyone*
should take a daily multivitamin of some sort.

It's kind of like insurance, I guess. However, there seem to be conflicting
research re the benefits of supplementation. Clearly there can be harm from
overdoing supplements, based on studies I've seen lately. Best to design a
diet that supplies lots of veggies and other good nutrient sources, rather
than relying on supplements. A LC diet can provide everything you need.

HG.

"DJ Delorie" wrote in message
...

Low carb diets have more iron anyway (more meat) so additional iron
isn't needed. In fact, too much dietary iron can cause its own
problems.

Actually, these days most experts recommend NOT taking iron-containing
supplements unless you have been diagnosed with low iron stores. Some OK
iron-containing multivitamins for preganant, nursing, and menstruating
females. People on standard diets, including a low-carb diet, should not
typically be in danger of low iron stores from dietary causes.

Unless you're really careful about balancing your diet for proper
micronutrition, you end up with a vitamin deficiency. *Everyone*
should take a daily multivitamin of some sort.

It's kind of like insurance, I guess. However, there seem to be conflicting
research re the benefits of supplementation. Clearly there can be harm from
overdoing supplements, based on studies I've seen lately. Best to design a
diet that supplies lots of veggies and other good nutrient sources, rather
than relying on supplements. A LC diet can provide everything you need.

HG.

"marengo" writes:
Not necessarily. I don't eat any more meat on Atkins than I did
prior to low carb. I just eat less starches and no sugar. Low carb
is not the equivalent of high protein; this is the myth that
perpetuates the image of low carbers with kidney failure, gout, etc.

Mine was more meat only because the crappy diet I was told to eat
before didn't have enough. Now, if I eat enough *lean* meat to get
sufficient protein, my physician complains I'm going to have a heart
attack (she's a vegetarian). Sigh.

But then again, I never took an iron supplement before. Of course, I
don't bleed one week out of each month either.

"marengo" writes:
Not necessarily. I don't eat any more meat on Atkins than I did
prior to low carb. I just eat less starches and no sugar. Low carb
is not the equivalent of high protein; this is the myth that
perpetuates the image of low carbers with kidney failure, gout, etc.

Mine was more meat only because the crappy diet I was told to eat
before didn't have enough. Now, if I eat enough *lean* meat to get
sufficient protein, my physician complains I'm going to have a heart
attack (she's a vegetarian). Sigh.

But then again, I never took an iron supplement before. Of course, I
don't bleed one week out of each month either.