Can someone tell me if its a good idea to take heavy doses of vitamins while on the Atkins diet? I know they suggest to take at least 99 mgs of potassium daily, but if Im eating vegetables that contain high levels of potassium along with meat that has potassium why the need? Can you take too much potassium?

Hi Bluepepper: I think you'd have to eat a lot of veggies to get the amount of potassium you need which would increase your carb levels. I'm not sure if you can take too much, but I think it would have to be mega-too much to be dangerous.

I take vitamins (which is definately recommended) for this WOL. I take 2 multi-vitamins a day, 3 potassium, 2 cal-mag (calcium-magnesium), 6 Omega 3 & 6 (like Flaxseed only better), 4 vitamin C's (I smoke) and 1 chromium every day.

Vikki

Yes, there is such a thing as taking too much potassium, but it's not likely. And on an LC diet, especially in the beginning stages or when exercising regularly, it's possible to become depleted because of the diuretic nature of the diet. Levels of 2000-4000 mg are recommended and easily provided by a diet rich in fresh, whole foods. Taking a supplement of 99mg/day probably won't put you over that limit.

Here's some further information from one of my favorite health websites, Healthworld Online.

Bluepepper, the authors of the plan you're on (the Eades of Protein Power) actually recommend 400mg of potassium daily while losing fat - up until maintenance and even then on very hot days, or days when you're working out intesely.

You do lose a lot of water when you LC so replacing the water and the minerals and salts does make you feel better. Getting too much potassium is possible if you are on certain types of medications for blood pressure and / or heart problems, but the body has a built in mechanism that self regulates and keeps potassium from getting too high otherwise. Make sure you'll well hydrated when you take potassium!

Nat

The only way to get too much potassium is if you are taking a potassium-sparing medication for high blood pressure. In which case I would not recommend adding a supplement. You don't *have* to take supplements, it's up to you, but if you start experiencing symptoms you can just pop on here and tell us what is going on and maybe we can give you an idea of what may be going on. Usually a need for more potassium manifests itself in the form of light headedness and/or extreme tiredness.
As for me, I take a lot of supplements, which I vary as I deem a need or no longer need them.
If you eat red meat at least twice a week, then don't take one with added iron. Inorganic iron, which is what vitamin pills have in them, has been linked to severe problems, which is why it is actually easy to find iron-free supplements these days. Organic iron is the best way to get your iron and you get plenty by eating red meat.