Which Supplements Should I Take on a Ketogenic Diet?

The following are bits and pieces of a few weeks of low carb dieting thoughts for your consideration.

<You mention MSM - I'm not familiar with that one. And what other supplements are important on a low carb diet?>

Unrelated to the low carb diet, both Dave and I have been taking MSM for a couple of years, for a variety of reasons. Running low on time this morning, but here's a link to our page on MSM. Here's the last short paragraph which may explain better: "And my final personal note - our experience around the gym seems to be a little unexplainable. One person will notice increased energy, another less shoulder pain, another's skin may clear up....it may be related to each individual's diet, or how their body processes the nutrients. Either way, give it a try - you might have a pleasant surprise awaiting you."

Part 2: Electrolytes— I'm way over my head here, so know that in advance. What I know for sure is that at a minor level, a person low in electrolytes can get muscle cramps, both daytime and severely at night. Lightheadness, fatigue, even nausea are considered minor effects of low electrolytes. Major effects include passing out, severe brain disfunction, heart problems and at the extreme end, death. Carbs awaiting use in the body are stored as glycogen in the short term (fat in the long term, but you knew that!).

Water is attached to the glycogen grams at a ratio of 3 grams of water per gram of glycogen. When you deplete the glycogen stores via low carb eating, the water goes with it, explaining the quick 3-10+ pounds lost during the first few days of a low carb diet. When the water goes, it takes the electrolyte minerals with it. Whoosh - gone overnight. Dave and I both use a zero carb electrolyte powder made by SuperSpectrim and continue to drink a lot of water.

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I called the manufacturer, Super Spectrim, who confirmed that their electrolyte powder contains zero carbs. I mix it with the psyllium husks and water at night. It's not good by any stretch, but the vague tangerine flavor makes the psyllium go down a little easier. Laree

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Try mixing a bit of Crystal Light in with the psyllium husks. Costco sells a box of 16 tubs much cheaper than the grocery store although they only have lemonade flavor. The Orange/tangerine flavor the grocery stores sell make the mixture taste like pulpy orange juice. On the same subject of regularity my son and I stumbled on something else that helps. After reading about the various benefits of green tea my son and I started drinking a couple of cups a day. We were drinking a flavored version a Celestial Seasonings green tea. One day he came home with the "Antioxidant" Green tea from Celestial Seasonings. After drinking this a few days we both noticed a beneficial effect on the bowels. It may help others too. Chuck

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One thing that would make your high protein, low carb diet easier/better is EFA (Essential Fatty Acid) supplementation. A 1:1 balance of omega 3 and omega 6 oils is required by all the cells in your body and will drastically reduce/eliminate carbohydrate cravings. The information in the Beyond the Zone book allowed me to eliminate my love handles and small spare tire in one month with no additional exercise, no calorie counting and no limit on protein or fat intake. Mark

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