10 replies to this topic

[zsazsa]

Hi all

So, I've recently started low carb, and am about to commence a period of high intensity interval training, and strength training. I eat well, and take vitamin D3, magnesium malate, and fish oil

i am looking for a good womens multi, there seems to be so much conflicting advice though

my boyfriend uses the now adam one, but i've read that they arent very good, and want to make sure that i get one that actually works

in the interim i'm just taking a soluble berocca multi, but i know that i need something better before i start the fitness stuff

does anyone have any advice for someone just learning about all this stuff?

[nupi]

I would probably look into AOR MultiBasics 3 if you do not trust the NOW stuff (taking it myself, but at 2 instead of 3 capsules a day). Or maybe LEF's two a day, but I have never truly investigated that one.

[zsazsa]

thank you - its not that i dont trust it, i am just trying to learn about what is good and what isnt - i've noticed quite a lot of people in posts on this site saying that the NOW one isnt very good though. can you feel the benefits from it?

[Sobriquet]

you don't need a multi, provided your diet is healthy. stay away from processed foods, eat clean. you'll be fine without.

Edited by Sobriquet, 08 July 2012 - 09:52 AM.

[zsazsa]

i checked my diet on cronometer, and there are quite a few things my diet falls short of, despite avoiding processed stuff, eating well, and including a variety of vitamins. i eat low carb which does limit some of the sources i can get things, however i would rather take a good multi than start eating high carb again.

[Sobriquet]

don't rely on any kind of meter to tell you what you should eat, or that you aren't meeting the RDA for this or that nutrient. Listen to your body, eat clean (when I say clean I mean unprocessed, nothing from boxes with pictures and labels!) just eat fruits, vegetables, brown rice, oats, nuts, seeds, lean proteins, and any other food you see fit in it's unadultered state. Don't get sucked into the dietary hype. Watch this documentary, learn from it. I wish you the best of luck and I'm here if you have any questions. http://veehd.com/vid...3_food-inc-2009

[arska]

Remember also avoid all highly refined industrial fats like canola, corn and sunflower oils etc.
Eggs (free range) are excellent nutrition.

[Mia K.]

Hi zsazsa,

Not currently taking but would consider:

Country Life CORE 1 Daily for Women 50+. See:

http://www.iherb.com...0-Tablets/34139

Jarrow's 1-3 multi is as good as any I've seen/taken, (their children's chewable is worth a look too, for a lower dose).

http://www.iherb.com...olv-Tablets/245

In general, the recommendation here is to supplement only to need, using CRON-O-Meter to monitor your dietary intake. (FWIW, I find I'm regularly low in Magnesium, E, zinc & iron on low-carb.)
Best, Mia

[nameless]

The easiest solution would be to alter your diet so most of your nutritional needs are met. The next alternative is to simply supplement whatever you are deficient in, rather than go for a multi. A multi-mineral may suit your needs better, depending on what you are low in.

As for full fledged, multis, be aware of some potential issues:

Excess folic acid is bad (potential cancer risk)
Excess thiamin is sort of bad (again, potential increased cancer risk)
Choline in supplement form may be bad (potential CVD risk)

If your diet is low in calcium and several minerals, but fine with other vits, look at some multi-mineral formulations. If you want a complete multi, and at the age where iron is okay for you, consider some children's multis that don't use folic acid (5-MTHF would be probably better)... although I admit I lost track of what forms of folate may be safer.

Personally I gave up on multis and just take a couple of extra minerals instead. Don't take a full dose multi regardless, as you do eat food after-all... you won't need several hundred percent of vits/minerals.

Edited by nameless, 08 July 2012 - 08:11 PM.

[niner]

Hi zsazsa, what does Cron-O-Meter say you are deficient in? Knowing that would help us advise you. If you are close, you might just want to make it up with food. Personally, I don't take a multi, but I do supplement a handful of vitamins and minerals individually. I don't think that you need to worry about getting your nutrition optimized before you start an exercise program. You can do it in parallel. Try to get a reasonable fraction of your daily protein near the time of your workout.

[Lovesnake]

Agree with Sobriquet, a diet that's as close to what you'd get 10,000 years is what your body is optimized for. Its not use to having pure macronutrients.