Posted by Aadika on December 28, 2002, at 3:14:03
In reply to Re: also...low carb... or lower cals? for pcos?, posted by jsarirose on December 27, 2002, at 16:13:09
I've got to say I whole-heartedly agree with Bampf and John on this one... fish oil supplements (or even better, if you're a fish-lover like I am, oily fish) can work wonderfully for those who initially may seem to be intolerant to a restricted carbohydrate diet. There are, of course, many other ways... large doses of inositol (up to 18g / day), niacinamide (NOT NIACIN!! --your brain's NATURAL benzodiazepine receptor agonist, in a dose between 1500-3000mg / day seems to work almost without fail [and, I might add, this is something that ANYONE with anxiety disorders should discuss with their physicians]), and finally, go to puritanspride.com and check out their product "Green Source". It's an absolutely phenomenal high-potency multivitamin + B-complex + bioflavonoids, quercetin, choline, rutin, hesperidin, bromelain, betaine HCl, amylase, lipase, protease, cellulase, a proprietary lactobacillus blend, oat bran, pectin, RNA, DNA, carotenoids, chlorphyll, vegetable oil (from borage and sunflower), l-glutathione, spirulina, wheat grass juice, sprouted barley juice, flaxseed oil, Chinese chlorella, bee pollen, Siberian ginseng, garlic, echinacea, milk thistle, goldenseal, ginger root, gingko biloba, and cayenne pepper. A WONDERFUL, low-cost supplement that replaces all those important anti-oxidants you're missing out on by not eating fruits, large quantities of vegetables, etc., and then some. In addition, I'd highly recommend taking 400-800mcg / day of chromium polynicotinate (NOT chromium picolinate, as picolinate has recently been implicated as a cause of DNA mutogenesis, DEFINITELY not a good thing), along with l-carnitine, 500-2000mg / day (which aids in metabolism). And since carb-restricted diets deprive you of potassium, it would be wise to discuss a prescription potassium supplement, as this is a very important electrolyte. OTC potassium supplements are limited by the FDA to contain 99mg of elemental potassium, about 2% of the recommended daily intake (though I'm not quite sure why...). Oh, and one more thing, if you decide to go the Green Source route, it would be wise to supplement with 100mcg / day of selenium as well as 800-2000 IUs of natural vitamin E.
As far as low-fat dieting is concerned, yes, it CAN work, but absolutely EVERYONE I've seen go on a low-fat diet has complained of lack of energy, extreme hunger, and, once the weight is off, a haggard and "aged-beyond-their-years" appearance. Low-carb dieters, on the other hand, generally tend to be happier, fuller, and healthier-looking (not to mention healthier on the inside, as has been shown by the recent Atkins vs. American Heart Association diet study).
I have been on a low-carb diet for several months and have been losing weight at an ASTOUNDING rate, have never felt better in my life, sleep regular hours, have noticed a huge increase in energy (including a mild euphoria), and (the icing on the cake) have noticed a DRAMATIC reduction in anxiety and a marked improvement in self-esteem. I even was able to quit smoking recently cold-turkey after being a 7-year heavy smoker-- with NO outside assistance (patch, gum, etc.) and NO withdrawal discomfort whatsoever!
I've recently had a physical and my cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose tolerance, etc. are all (at last!) consistent with others my age (19) who are in good health. And exercise is a MUST. I personally find jogging for 45 minutes every morning and weight training every other day to be a crucial part of not only my weight loss plan, but my LIFE.
I strongly urge you to give this way of eating another chance... perhaps you simply weren't supplementing yourself properly? Well, I just wanted to share my experience and hope that you find something that works for you. :-)
All the best,
~ Aadika
poster:Aadika
thread:133343
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021223/msgs/133465.html