Low Carb Diet Supplements

[Mark T]

I switched down to a relatively low carb diet back in January, after a period of cold turkey I think I'm mostly adjusted.

However @Mark Parrott comment on a thread mentioned that we might need to add more salt to prevent cramps (which I'm definitely getting more off).

Is there anything else that we need to add? One of my colleagues who is on a ketogenic diet mentioned potassium.

 

[Matt Cycle]

I use these electrolyte tabs when on the bike - just chuck one in some water. Contain sodium, magnesium, calcium and potassium. Although I haven't had any issues I wouldn't go mad with them as they're sweetened with sorbitol. (Just checked on mine and the tube says max 3 tabs per day).

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/high5-zero-electrolyte-drink-20-tabs/

 

[Mark T]

Silly question; if I'm getting low on anything - how would I recognise this?

Cramps have been mentioned. Are there any other things I have to look for? I'm just wondering if some of the other things that seem to be going on are related to this.

 

[HOBIE]

Diet Tonic water for cramp. Cheap & with lemon. Tastes nice on a hot day. In 6 months time

 

[Amigo]

Silly question; if I'm getting low on anything - how would I recognise this?

Cramps have been mentioned. Are there any other things I have to look for? I'm just wondering if some of the other things that seem to be going on are related to this.

I suffer excruciating cramps Mark and have taken a fair bit of advice on this. Potassium and magnesium do seem to be implicated so try to increase the foods you mentioned. It’s essential to keep hydrated and also to keep your legs and feet warm in bed. Stretch the calf muscles before bed. Try to limit too many soda type drinks.
People have been suggesting tonic water for years because of the quinine content but in reality, the doctor-prescribed dose to prevent leg cramps has been between 200 and 300 mg. A litre of tonic contains around 83 mg of quinine.
That means one eight-ounce glass has about 20 mg. You would have to drink about 10 glasses to get the dose of quinine that doctors used to prescribe to prevent leg cramps!

Quinine is actually dangerous in large doses and doctors are no longer allowed to prescribe it except for malaria. However, if you actually like diet tonic, it’s worth a try but it’s largely a discounted theory these days. It’s probably the hydration from it that helps most.

I sympathise, cramp is awful!

 

[Mark T]

The cramps are annoying, but not my main issues.

My main issue is that sometimes I feel a little giddy or light-headed or off-balance. I'd put that down to something else, but I notice that potassium can do nasty things like that too.

 

[Amigo]

The cramps are annoying, but not my main issues.

My main issue is that sometimes I feel a little giddy or light-headed or off-balance. I'd put that down to something else, but I notice that potassium can do nasty things like that too.

Sometimes we need a Vitamin Panel doing with a blood test Mark. I was very depleted in Vit D and it does matter, it’s not just trendy pill popping as some seem to imagine. Deficiencies can cause all kinds of issues.

 

[Mark T]

I've got a HbA1c due in just under a couple of months - I'll speak to my D Nurse and see if I can tack a Vitamin panel onto that (unless things get horribly worse before then).

When I first started the low carb diet I was actually buying avocado's. I stopped because they are a pain to keep fresh and to get to the right ripeness unless you go shopping several times a week (generally we do one shop per week).