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are we supposed to take multi vitamins while on low carb keto ?

There was a documentary on the BBC about vitamins, it may be on iPlayer. I took diabetone for a year. I recently stopped taking them to see how I get on.
 
Never taken a vitamin tablet in my life and been low carb, probably keto much of the time, for well over five years. Full of bounce and wellness.
I suspect there is the odd vitamin in all those eggs, cream, cheese, nuts, meats and fish that I'm eating.
Sally
 
I would third that no. Unless your blood tests flag up some deficiencies then get your micro nutrients from your diet. A diet low in carbohydrates, moderate/high in protein and high in healthy fats will supply you with everything you need. However, the choice is yours, bearing in mind that for as many vitamins there are as many differences of opinion on dosage.
 
Nope. Not necessary. It’s a myth that ketogenic eating is nutritionally deficient. It doesn’t consist of nutritionally deficient foods that normally have to to be fortified. It consists of food that the planet made for us. Trust nature.

That said, taking a good quality supplement anyway probably won’t do you any harm if you chose to do so :)
 
There is a book called Eat Rich Live Long which has an excellent section on minerals and vitamins which may be deficient, and why, in modern life, and when using a low carb diet (at least in the early stages) and gives detailed information on which foods contain which minerals and vitamins, also which supplements can help if you cannot easily obtain them in your food. Best wishes ...
 
Pills isolate the vitamin, which without it's normal wrapper (real food) may not get absorbed properly. Where possible whole foods should be the default choice if deficient; however if only mildly below an RDA, I would not fret as these numbers are under scrutiny.
 
I am another that says no need, unless your blood tests show a deficiency somewhere or you have deficiency symptoms. I have been on a very low carb diet for about 4 years and never needed any vitamin supplements. You can get everything you need from the food you eat.

Be careful of videos and blogs about the need for supplements - they are most likely trying to sell you something.
 
seem to have stumbled into a type 2 talk but to add my tuppence, I always think a person's diet should provide what they need.
 
A person’s diet SHOULD provide everything they need.

Doesn’t always though, does it?
If we all ate beautifully well formulated diets rich in mins and vits and trace elements, all at max ripeness and wholesome fresh picked goodness, then half the illnesses of modern life probably wouldn’t happen.

Instead we usually buy food from shops and stores, not the veg patch, or field, and then it may hang around our fridge or cupboard for weeks (slowly deteriorating)

If you google, you will find articles on how mins and vits are a con, while on the next search you will find info on how 60% of the population has sub-optimal levels of magnesium, and how only 3% of the population gets the recommended daily amount of potassium. Then another search on ‘soil depletion’ shows how nutrients have decreased in soil due to modern farming techniques.

So, who to believe?

Well, I listened to my body, did the research, and now buy a few, quality, targeted vitamins and feel much better for it.

I personally think that cheap mass marketed multi vits and mins are a total waste of money.
And since doctors rarely test for anything other than really obvious deficiencies (and many nutrient tests are not available on the NHS, AND most doctors don't educate themselves on what deficiencies look like) I don't think that doctors are much help. How many people are told that using Metformin may cause B12 deficiency, long term? Or that statins do the same for Q10? Or that insomnia may be as simple as a mineral deficiency? Or that smokers need extra vitamin C?

If you have any queries about whether your current food choices offer insufficient nutrition, then get a free nutrition tracking App (like cronometer) and use it. I did, and it was quite a revelation. My nutrition turned out to be excellent overall - except for magnesium, potassium and manganese, all of which I now supplement. And, as said above, I feel much better for it.

Everyone has opinions on these things, but most people seem to assume that what works for them will work for you. Not so. Listen to your own body and do some research, including your own data gathering.

Edited for typos, and to add the last para.
 
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Richard Bernstein (the Godfather of low carb diets for diabetics) says that breads are often fortified with vitamin B. He says if you don't eat bean sprouts, spinach, broccoli, brussels sprouts, or cauliflower each day, then you should supplement with vitamins.

I personally take a multivitamin, can't hurt can it? (I'm sure someone will come along and tell me that it will)
 
Brunneria said:
A person’s diet SHOULD provide everything they need.

Doesn’t always though, does it?
If we all ate beautifully well formulated diets rich in mins and vits and trace elements, all at max ripeness and wholesome fresh picked goodness, then half the illnesses of modern life probably wouldn’t happen.

Instead we usually buy food from shops and stores, not the veg patch, or field, and then it may hang around our fridge or cupboard for weeks (slowly deteriorating)

If you google, you will find articles on how mins and vits are a con, while on the next search you will find info on how 60% of the population has sub-optimal levels of magnesium, and how only 3% of the population gets the recommended daily amount of potassium. Then another search on ‘soil depletion’ shows how nutrients have decreased in soil due to modern farming techniques.

So, who to believe?

Well, I listened to my body, did the research, and now buy a few, quality, targeted vitamins and feel much better for it.

I personally think that cheap mass marketed multi vits and mins are a total waste of money.
And since doctors rarely test for anything other than really obvious deficiencies (and many nutrient tests are not available on the NHS, AND most doctors don't educate themselves on what deficiencies look like) I don't think that doctors are much help. How many people are told that using Metformin may cause B12 deficiency, long term? Or that statins do the same for Q10? Or that insomnia may be as simple as a mineral deficiency? Or that smokers need extra vitamin C?

If you have any queries about whether your current food choices offer insufficient nutrition, then get a free nutrition tracking App (like cronometer) and use it. I did, and it was quite a revelation. My nutrition turned out to be excellent overall - except for magnesium, potassium and manganese, all of which I now supplement. And, as said above, I feel much better for it.

Everyone has opinions on these things, but most people seem to assume that what works for them will work for you. Not so. Listen to your own body and do some research, including your own data gathering.

Edited for typos, and to add the last para.
Click to expand...
I also try to get all my vitamins from food but I do have to supplement magnesium tablets and add salt to my evening bone broth otherwise I get severe leg cramps. I use Celtic sea salt which has potassium, magnesium and calcium as well as sodium in it.
 
SamJB said:
Richard Bernstein (the Godfather of low carb diets for diabetics) says that breads are often fortified with vitamin B. He says if you don't eat bean sprouts, spinach, broccoli, brussels sprouts, or cauliflower each day, then you should supplement with vitamins.

I personally take a multivitamin, can't hurt can it? (I'm sure someone will come along and tell me that it will)
Click to expand...
Yup, there are lots of studies that show vitamin supplementation does nothing good and can do harm. You just need to google search for the studies. You shouldn't need to supplement for vitamin B if you eat seafood, meat, eggs and/or dairy.
 
sally and james said:
Never taken a vitamin tablet in my life and been low carb, probably keto much of the time, for well over five years. Full of bounce and wellness.
I suspect there is the odd vitamin in all those eggs, cream, cheese, nuts, meats and fish that I'm eating.
Sally
Click to expand...

I eat all that too Sally but I have now found out I am very low on Vit D.
 
Hotpepper20000 said:
It doesn’t take much sun exposure. I think 20-30 mins a day.
Not all VitD tablets are created equal and take up to three months to be fully effective
Click to expand...


Yep, I have dark skin too which doesn't help, not much sun in the rainy old Midlands. :)
 
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