And in their most recent edition, Protein Power Lifeplan (published in 2000), they've upped the requirement to 4 x 99mg tablets per day for the early weeks of the program, in addition to using a potassium-containing salt substitute. This is because potassium is excreted in the urine, and there is increased urine production during the early phase of low-carbing. Symptoms of low potassium include fatigue, lethargy, headaches, muscle aches and weakness. Once your body has adjusted, and urine output normalized, then cut back to one 99mg tablet per day, in addition to using a potassium salt substitute.

Larger persons, and those in hot climates (sweating a lot), and/or undertaking a strenuous exercise program will need more potassium than average.

Yes, too much potassium is not good for you, but it would be a rare situation for that to happen. If your kidneys are healthy, then you will excrete any excess. Only if you have severe kidney disease, or if you are taking certain blood pressure medications .. which may cause you to retain potassium. Check with your dr. or pharmacist if you're not sure.Again, in the more recent PP Lifeplan, the Drs. Eades have upped the recommendations for vitamin E to 400 to 500mg (or IU) per day, for its antioxidant properties, plus it has insulin-sensitizing benefits as well. Vitamin E is safe to take at doses of 1000mg per day. 400mg is the generally recommended daily dose in most references.3000mg (3g) = approx. 1 tsp (5 ml) fresh flax oil. 9000mg or 9g would = approx. 3 tsp or 1 Tbsp. In Fats That Heal Fats That Kill, Udo Erasmus states that up to 3 Tbsp fresh flax oil may be used daily for therapeutic purposes. He cautions that you shouldn't be using flax oil exclusively, meaning, there should be other sources of fats and oils in your diet, especially fatty fish such as tuna, salmon and sardines. Probably the lower dose is sufficient for general daily supplementation ... higher doses would be for specific therapeutic purposes. The Omega-3 EFA in flax (alpha-linolinic acid or ALA) may be helpful for fat-loss, since it inhibits certain prostaglandins which are thought to prevent fat-burning.Here in Canada, labels on nutritional supplements are not permitted to make claims about its intended use other than to say that it's for therapeutic use, or some bland, vague statement. They are not permitted to recommend doses higher than the RDA, although the supplement may have more than the RDA in it. The RDA for biotin is 300 mcg ... but for therapeutic use, the recommendations are much, much higher than that! Atkins cites studies showing the safe use of hundreds of times that dose for insulin-sensitizing. 15mg (15,000 mcg) or more daily is recommended for diabetes, blood sugar and insulin sensitization.

It is also recommended for skin and hair problems, and brittle nails.

Biotin is normally produced in our bodies by the action of bacteria in our intestines, so a deficiency is rare. Consuming a lot of processed fats and oils will inhibit the absorption of biotin. Biotin is very safe, and no reports of adverse effects, even at high doses.

Hope this is helpful

Doreen

p.s. - a really good family reference for nutritional supplements, herbs and health .. is Prescription for Nutritional Healing by James Balch, M.D. and Phyllis Balch, CNC