The more you read the more your confused...take this for that...take that for this....this will help that and that will help this....blah blah blah blah blah...

ex:

L-Glutamine

What is it? A molecule your body stores in the bloodstream and converts into glucose as needed

Should you take it? No. "Glutamine can be useful in preventing alcohol cravings and boosting immunity, but there's no research to show that it can help increase energy levels," says Alan Gaby, MD, a medical nutritionist.

L-carnitine

What is it? An amino acid that helps move fat cells through the body so they can be burned as energy

Should you take it? Yes. Your body's demand for the substance may exceed its natural production. "A carnitine deficiency could definitely lower your energy level," says John Beard, PhD, a professor of nutritional science at Penn State University. Take between 250 and 500 mg a day.

I bought L-Glutamine been taking it all week and it does Jack hmmmm Crap...there goes 20$ a bottle... guess vitamins dont work the same for all of us...

Now im still looking for a good fish oil...which one? have NO clue yet...if this continues i will go jump in the lake myself and fetch my own fish...

lan

__________________
To Love is to risk not being loved in return. To try is to risk failure. But risk must be taken. Because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.

According to Jonny Bowden, in his book Living the Low Carb Life, L-Glutamine is a useful supplement. He says, "Glutamine is your secret weapon against carbohydrate cravings...Dr. Ron Rosedale explains that glutamine acts as a brain fuel, so it can help eliminate carbohydrate cravings while you are in that "transition" period."

He recommends the following supplements:
B Complex
B5
B6
C
E
omega-3s (does not recommend flaxseed oil for men due to possible links to prostate cancer and alpha linoleic acid intake, but recommends fish oil for everyone)
GLA
magnesium
ALA (alpha lipoic acid)
chromium
high-dose biotin
carnitine
CoQ10
green tea
ginseng
5-HTP
bitter orange
glutamine
neptune krill oil
vanadyl sulfate

This is a LOT of supplements! There is NO WAY I could take all of those! I take a multi-vitamin, calcium, folic acid, L-carnitine, chromium picolinate, and flaxseed oil. My multi, however, has 50% of the RDA of calcium, and since I eat plenty of dairy, the calcium is redundant, especially since the body can't use 1000 mg at a time. When I run out of the calcium, I don't plan to buy more. Also, because I am now eating flax cereal just about daily, I am going to finish up the flaxseed oil and then replace it with fish oil. I also am going to add L-glutamine to my list.

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oh dear. ian, i think i have to agree w/ you on this issue!! it's all so overwhelming. what to take, what brand, when to take it, etc?! (pulling out my hair!)
and i am currently picturing you splashing around in the chicago river (outside my office window)! LOL

i am taking a multi, L-carnitine, alpha lipoic acid and ACV. and to be honest w/ you, i have no idea why i take any of them! i've just read good things here and there and started taking em....real smart, eh? :o

i do notice that the ACV gives me a great energy buzz ...
as for the others, i don't notice much.
i wish an expert could just tell me, "ok, here's what you need to take every day to make the most of your LC WOE!"
wishful thinking!

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**************
Carrie
SBD since 9/12/2005
Re-started 5/8/2006
My new journal: Just Breathe

*nods in agreement*

This is my list:
One A Day Weight Smart
Super B Complex
Chromium
L-Glutamine
Calcium/Magnesium/Zinc combo
ACV
Atkins Essential Oils

Now I gotta tell ya...I just started the essential oils (which contains fish oils) this week and MAN!!!!! I take it in the morning with breakfast and find myself burping up fish taste all morning! So gonna start taking them at night with dinner when it's more food in my belly. Just an FYI on that!

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Currently Pregnant and expecting bundle of joy the week before Christmas

I don't understand why you people find this confusing. It is simple just take one of everything

Actually I don't understand it all either. So I just get the Atkins Nutra Paks. Each pak has 7 pills in it that seem to do me well. I am sure it is missing things and has stuff I don't need, but it is easy.

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261/226/215?
Started Atkins on 6/12/03

ewwww on the burping fish taste! (insert barfing smiley here! LOL)
what is fish oil supposed to "do" for you?

Atkins Essential Oils provides a vital blend of essential fatty acids (EFAs) scientifically designed to provide nutritional support for people cutting back on carbohydrates to acheive weight loss and better health. Recommended for daily use during all phases of the Atkins Nutritional Approach, Atkins Essential Oils is a unique three-in-one formula that includes omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids from fish, borage and flaxseed oils. Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. The scientific evidence supporting this claim is strong but not conclusive. EFAs also help to maintain proper metabollic function, healthy joints and and optimal immune system function.

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Currently Pregnant and expecting bundle of joy the week before Christmas

I take extra calcium, a good multivitamin and the atkins essential oils. --that's it except my asthma and allergy medications and the diuretic for fluid buildup in my leg. And I too have had issue with "burping" the fish taste for a while after taking the oils gels, but etiher I ahve gotten used to that or I have stopped because I don't recall it for quite some time now!!!

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Lori

232/190/130
My other journal http://www.lowcarbeating.com/bb/showthread.php?t=1130

According to the Omega Rx Zone, it does many things. First of all Dr. Sears theorizes that they have a huge effect on the production of eicosanoids - a group of hormones like compounds that have effects on almost everything in your body from pain production, to inflamation, to heart disease, to the brain.

Dr. Sears believes that fish oil can do many dramatic things. I personally would recomend taking some of his claims (i.e. reversing Altzimers, ect.) with a grain of salt. I do believe however that fish oils, taken regularly, can be as beneficial (if not more so) than almost any other vitamin.

Finally there are many studies showing that it has antidepressant properties. IMO it is probably better to see if fish oils can help you before you begin taking antidepressants.

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Started Atkins on 9/20/03
235-->190; 150 goal

Hi! There is a thread on page 2 of this forum titled Supplements: what and how many do you take? or something close to that. Anyhow, I was at the health food store Sunday, and I had a nice chat with a very knowledgable salesman who readily admitted that EVERYONE doesn't need to take EVERYTHING. Whew! Looking around that store, I think a person would have to just take water and supplements all day long just to take one of everything. After I told him what I'm taking, I asked him if there was something I was missing and his only suggestion was magnesium. BTW, I take coral calcium since I am lactose intolerant and don't eat much dairy, digestive enzymes because I am out of the amylase enzyme in my body, glucosamine for my joints because arthritis runs in the family and it is crucial to my job that I stay in shape, I also take a really good multi-oil I got at GNC. It has fish, flaxseed, borage, evening primrose, wheat germ, and black currant oils. I'm not sure what they all do, but I don't have any aftertaste or burping with this capsule. I am also on a probiotic regimen to replace the flora/biotics I've killed with antibiotics and BCP's. What else? I bought a lactase supplement, too, so I can pop one of those when I eat any dairy. And lastly, a Centrum A-Z with Lycopene for whatever else I missed. I am going to look into CLA next. I'm just now beginning to take the magnesium.

I read a great article about Barry Sears and his Zone books. As Paladin was saying, he is all about the fish oil! I began taking this multi-oil supplement after reading that article, and I don't know if I can say I have noticed any benefit from it, but maybe it is something you don't know you helped until you're much older, like aging less, better skin and muscle tone, whatever.

I agree the whole vitamin/mineral/oil/enzyme thing is very confusing. I am researching these things one item at a time and adding them to my daily regimen if I think they will benefit me and if I really think I need them. Everyone is different; we have vastly varying needs, depending on age, gender, physical condition, etc. so it's hard to tell unless you do a bit of studying and experimenting.
Well, that's my take on it. Good luck!

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I'm with the concensus, its all confusing, so i just take em anyway, lol. but i take most of what everyone else is taking, multi-vitamin, omegas, co-q, glutamine, super biotin, cal-mag-zinc and cromium, stopped taking the l_carntine and my loss is still doing fine, so will only take that when im in a stall.

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Started LC 1-10-04

302/199/160, 103lbs down, 39 to go, simply remarkable.

Restart- 8-19-07
242/226/160


405 points to date ( HOLIDAY CHALLENGE )

Cgilson quote: i am currently picturing you splashing around in the chicago river (outside my office window)! LOL

naaaaa i will stick to canadian water so i dont have to take more vitamins cause of polluted water in chicago...you too funny...cute

your all funny...i had a good laugh at what some wrote...got to say one thing about you guys...you have humour...ALRIGHT!!!

So i read all your post...still not clear like most of yous (yes yous it not english...i know)...what i dont like is to take pills i dont really need..and i know as a fact none of us needs all what we are taking...there is NO way we need all that...NOT because Atkins or Sears said so...dont forget, its called marketing...ive been taking for over 15yrs: C1000mg except for summers, E400iu....and for 3yrs: Bcomplex 100....and last year Cal....i havent had a cold for YEARS!!! but C wont cure infections...and i do the watercure for the pass 6months...and that i can tell you it works for me for my ache and pains...When it comes to vitamin well i guess to eaches own...(hmmm that doesnt sound english either...its the french side fault)

After reading these posts, I guess if you believe it makes you feel better so be it...i dont think none of us can say this is better then that or take this for that...etc etc etc...

I believe a lot is in our head...we should eating properly, balanced and exercise... so like that we might not need all them vitamins we take...in the olden days they never took vitamins like we do...they eat well and fresh...till the junk food resturants started....anyhow this is my opinion...

overall, its very interesting what others think about vitamins

Lan

__________________
To Love is to risk not being loved in return. To try is to risk failure. But risk must be taken. Because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.

Yup, it is confusing. I'm currently re-evaluating my supplement routine (as I gradually run out of this or that). Here's the way I'm tending:

--Eat a balanced diet, keying off the Atkins Pyramid (I really like that thing!)
--Add a multi-vitamin, just in case.
--Add calcium + D (I'm an older female)
--Add Essential Oils

Things I'm trying to decide about:
--Extra vitamin E
--Glucosamine/Chondroitin (for arthritis, joint health)
--CoQ10 (doctor recommends it)
--Potassium
--Chromium Picolinate
--Low-dose aspirin (doctor recommends that, too)

Probably going to stop:
--Biotin
--L-carnitine

It's hard to make these decisions when the "science" is so uncertain--and when I don't actually "feel" the difference from day to day.

Guess we all have to make our choices, and hope for the best!

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Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

Glucosamine/Chondroitin WORKS great for me... i use it.. my joints used to ache,,, and pop and grind... it took a while to actually see results... bout a month or so... but it works AWESOME.. i can move (cept for the knee that i got operated on recently) sooooooooo much better.. joints feel 20 years younger.. honest..*L* and i dont have stock in the company...*grin*

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kims SECOND journal is HERE
kims new blog
KIMS BLOG !!
SUGARFREE BLOG

hmmmmm i lost my reply...lol...ok i will re=type it:

HEYKIM....ive been popping left and right....doc says so long it pops it doesnt break...i have a comedian as a doc...should be in our just for laughs festival...anyhow...you mention you take Glucosamine/Chondroitin....im curious it that would work...cause it is true...it does become uncomfortable till you unfold your elbows to make them pop to feel better...yes i know for the ones out there you might find this is odd but im sure KIM knows what im trying to say...till you havent popped your not comfortable...thank god we arent like a balloon...puff and your gone...lol... what are the amounts you take per day?

and for L-Carnitine, i wonder if its really worth it or if its like L-Glutamin that i wasted 18bucks on...

thanks for any imput out there....

Helene

__________________
To Love is to risk not being loved in return. To try is to risk failure. But risk must be taken. Because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.