Vitamins/Supplements
 

Does anyone doing Ideal Protein buy their own supplements as opposed to buying/using the ones our diet coaches sell? I'm tired of spending sooo much on the supplements and i've found ones that are comparable, if not better and much less expensive...

I actually have ones that cover everything but potassium, because of a digestion issue I have... And they didn't have a problem with me using my own. I say as long as it's comparable, go for it!

Yep, I kept my own pills from GNC (I was getting more than the IP pills deliver) but the potassium that is IP is extra strength and it is really hard to find something that concentrated. I'm just doing it with my smaller potassium amount and doing okay.

:dizzy:
Perfect timing for this thread. I was just comparing my vitamins to the ones I bought from IP. I have a calcium and mag that apprears to be better. I will have to shop for the potassium and the omega. I'll stay tuned for advice.

Several people have asked about what to take and what the Ideal Protein vitamins offer. Some haven't been able to get these vitamins through their coach.

Here is the little I know.

Supplements:
Calcium citrate/magnesium citrate/zinc citrate /vitamin D:600mg/300mg/20mg/260mg
This volume is delivered in 4 tablets taken 2 at dinner and 2 a bit before bedtime

Potassium bicarbonate/calcium:800mg/200mg
This volume is delivered in 1 tablet taken in the morning

omega oil 1600 mg to 4000mg depending on who you talk to. UDO's more than covers all needs. I use it and only count it as a supplement.

Multivitamin: Taken as 2 tablets one in the morning and one with dinner
vitamin a : 3320 iu
vitamin c : 200 mg
vitamin d : 150 iu
vitamin e : 140 iu
thiamine : 30mg
riboflavin : 6mg
niacin : 30mg
b6 : 30mg
folic acid : 260micrograms
b12 : 134 micrograms
biotin : 260 micrograms
pantothenic acid : 150 mg
calcium : 84mg
iodine : 76 microgram
magnesium : 42 mg
zinc : 5mg
selenium : 100mg
manganese : 5mg
chromium citrate : 90 microgram
molybdenum : 100 microgram
potassium bicarbonate : 20mg
vanadium : 100 micrograms
choline : 20mg

all minerals except potassium are in citrate form.


The hardest thing to find will be the potassium. Contact ideal to go and explain your coach isn't offering it. maybe you can get it from them. Most potassium is 100mg doses and just not enough in 1 pill.

You can supplement the others easily. My favorite brand for a better than IP quality match is Source Naturals, Life force for women! EXCELLENT quality there! They have the calcium/magnesium too. And a potassium if you want it but you will need to take more tabs a day.

ALSO REQUIRED: 1-2 tsp of olive oil per day and 1/2 tsp salt in the form of unbleached real sea salt. I use the real salt brand but others that retain naturally occurring minerals are fine.

I think that as long as you are getting good quality supplements it is fine to get them elsewhere. I use supplements from my local health food store and they cover everything.

Xanthia

I remember Pita saying that too much potassium at one intake can cause heart attack (This information was coming from her brother, who's also a doc if I remember correctly?). Since this day, and because I'm always taking my morning pills with a big coffee, I'm slicing mine in half, and I take one half, and the other 30 minutes/1 hour later. I'm not sure if this information was real or not, but I prefer to do it this way just in case.

The pharmacist I went to see to have some conselling on equivalent of IP vitamins but less pricy said something like that to me, that the potassium we're taking is too much (at least for my young age, I'm 21).

So maybe it's ok if you're taking a smaller amount. :?:

I found a really good Omega 3 at Walmart, and a GREAT deal. I'll put the specs up when I'm at home tonight.

GNC has a Cal/Mag supplement called Calcium Citrate Plus. Each pill has 200mg Calcium, 100mg Magnesium, 200 IU of Vit D. I take 2 with dinner and 1 with my evening snack to match the IP supplement.

You can also get Potassium Gluconate 99 at GNC, but it means taking 8 pills in the morning. Cost was virtually equal to what I can get from my coach, even with the discount I get at GNC for being a gold card member (20% off the first 10 days of the month. It costs to join, but you recoup it quickly buying vitamins, shaker bottles, etc), so I buy the Natura because 1 pill is easier to swallow than 8.

Apparently there is an FDA regulation that limits Potassium to 99mg per tablet. I've been unable to find anything as concentrated as the Natura Pot/Cal. Has anyone found anything with more than 99mg anywhere?

As far as too much potassium, the 800mg is only about 1/3 of the recommended daily intake (most people need about 2400mg). 1/2 C. of French Beans have about 1100mg of potassium. To be at risk of heart attack, you'd have to be ingesting 15,000 - 18,000mg. Tha's A LOT!

WOW thanks for this really useful info ! I was really worried about my potassium intake !!

what is Natura? I can see you talking about potassium in paragraph 2 but I don't see a concentration or dosage for natura. All I can see is the name reference.

I have only found one generic brand at 200mg per tablet, still 4 tabs a day. I am uncertain of the quality because it is a private label.

Natura is the brand of vitamins my IP coach sells me.

Natura is the "brand name" of the supplements I get from my doc/coach. They're from the same lab as the food packets. The label from my pot/cal says the potassium is potassium bicarbonate, not potassium citrate. I've used both the stuff from my coach and the stuff from GNC with no noticeable difference. But I haven't used citrate. Can you verify that your IP potassium is CITRATE, not BICARBONATE? Interesting...

THANKS! I feel like such an idiot. I had grabbed an old bottle, back when I started, (it was labeled Ideal Protein) and wrote down the details. Yes, back then there was a difference and it was only 600mg. Sometime early this year I noticed the dosage go up but I didn't catch the change to BICARBNATE (or the natura thing). You are right. I will edit my posts to reflect that. Sorry, and thanks again.

I just verified my post last night on vitamins against current bottle labels and all the rest seems to be the same.

Point about too much potassium in IP pills is too much in one dose which is not an extended release tablet.

Yes, and I understand the concern. But 800mg of potassium really isn't that much all at once. Many foods, like bananas and most fish, have a lot of potassium, some with a lot more than 800mg. Just my 2 cents.

Nope not for everone. I do wonder if a banana and not coated pill take as long to get digested.

I am so glad to see this thread develop, I have been wondering about potassium. I developed some sort of chest pains. Went to see the doc, had a EKG, everything checked out okay there. She decided it may be acid reflux, and prescribed Maalox or Mylanta. The pains went away and haven't returned, but I got a terrible bout of diarrhea for two days. Stopped taking the antacid and it cleared up, but then I went through a bout of severe weakness (what I consider severe, I don't like the feeling of weakness). I wondered if it had something to do with potassium. I craved peanut butter something fierce to the point of I had to cheat. Then I read on this board somewhere a craving of peanut butter can be a sign of low potassium. I'm all better now and back on track. I have a follow up appt. with the doc and was planning on talking to her.

It's crazy that almost everyone on this diet crave peanut butter this way. I've never been a PB eater, but now I want it ALL THE TIME. so weird..

I'm glad to hear others say they crave pb. I too have never been a peanut butter eater but I so want it now. I did get the wf peanut butter and have been adding to my puddings with extra water for a "shake". I never thought about the potassium thing.

When I got my original IP starter pack, they had included vitamins from Our Health Coop. The dealer was using those instead of IP's brand, but they were charging IP prices. The only IP supplement in the pack was the calcium/potassium. Anyway, I continued to buy the Our Health Coop brand, but I got them directly from their online site at a significant savings. Go to www.ourhealthcoop.com. Buy the fish oil, 1000 mg, $7.95 for 180; multi-vites, iron-free formula, $3.99 for 60; and liquid calcium (with magnesium, bitamin D3, and boron), $6.47 for 100. I paid under $10 for shipping and handling on 7 bottles of vitamins. I bought a couple of bottles of the IP calcium/potassium and used them until I reached goal. Now I just buy potassium tablets from my local grocery. I don't worry about getting ones with calcium in them as I take thyroid medication in the a.m. and I'm getting plenty of calcium in my diet in maintenance anyway.

Also check out this thread-Alternative Vitamins.

bump
 

seems to be interest again in alternative sources of vitamins so I am bumping this one!

I found potassium at costco in a 600mg dosage. It was just under $12 for 100 of them. Had to ask the pharmacist for them. I just said I am on a low-carb/high-protein diet and they have me on 800mg a day so he looked and said that was the highest they had. Next time I will ask if they have it in 400mg and then I could just take two a day. I still have 3 months worth from IP which I figure will last me until I'm done, but I was looking for my Mom who is doing IP with alternative products. They also had calcium there, 600mg, $10 for 200! Less than IP but the recommended intake of calcium is only 1000mg a day so I think she will be ok. She got her one a day multivitamins there as well, $16 for 365! I love costco. With their supplements, RTD premier nutrition shakes, and they also have a 2 kg protein powder in vanilla and chocolate for $30, each one is roughly 64 servings, and has 25 grams protein! And I think 2 carbs.

Wow. I didn't know we could take other vitamins other than the IP ones. I was told by my coach she strongly suggest I take the IP ones since they are formulated to work with the diet. I had been taking a vitamin pack from a company called Melaleuca that is awesome. I guess I'll finish my IP vitamins and start using my own then.

What is this about us getting enough potassium? Is our diet very deficient of that?

Thank you all. This is interesting and educational

So just checking... the conclusion on the potassium supplement is that it isn't harmful at that level but not quite necessary?? I was told once a day was necessary.

Reactivating the thread
 

I've been doing some research on supplements and thought this would be the best place to share it.

The IP supplements I have indicate the amount of elemental calcium, elemental magnesium and elemental zinc. The information is on at least one of the bottles that contain the mineral.

Here's what I found out about potassium:
The RDA (or RD Intake) is 4700 mg.
Different forms of potassium have different amounts of potassium (K) in them:[LIST][*]potassium bicarbonate is about 39% potassium, 10 milliEquivalents (10 mEq)[*]potassium citrate is 38% potassium, 9.8 milliEquivalents (10 mEq)[*]potassium gluconate is 17% potassium, 4.3 milliEquivalents (10 mEq)[LIST]
That helped me compare different forms of potassium to see how much I would get for the money.

Potassium supplements are available in Canada & the U.S. in amounts greater than 99 mg (elemental K) only with a prescription, due to the risk of kidney failure in those who are susceptible. That's probably one of the reasons that IP requires the regulatory (FDA, Health Canada) approvals.

Most of the best food sources of potassium -- fruits, legumes, nuts, potatoes -- are "off the list" during Phases 1 and 2.

Supplement labelling in the US seems to be different from Canadian labelling. US packages seem to list the elemental minerals (or like IP, sometimes both elemental and the # mg of the mineral salt, e.g. potassium citrate). Canadian packaging lists only the # mg of the mineral salt, so you have to be into the research and algebra to figure it out. :?: :shrug:

I think I've come up with some combinations that come close to IPs formulations. I'll be double checking the calculations and posting early in the week.

Possible supplement combos to replace IP's supplements
 

Ok, I've spent the last ??? hours researching and comparing supplements and combinations to come up with something that's comparable to IP's Multi-Vita + Cal Mag + Pot Cal (K Cal).

Apologies in advance for the iherb links. I love this company. I've been buying from them for 5 months-- they have great prices, lots of stock, high turnover so the products are fresh, they publish the expiry dates on product, and they ship to Canada! If you do order, use the code in my signature to get $5.00 off your first order!

The links below take you to iherb.com pages (an online vitamin/supplement/herb retailer I'm using) except for the Google spreadsheet link which takes you to ... :chin: ... a spreadsheet in Google Docs. :D

One combination is
- Solgar Vitamins Only (SOL-02812, $18.56 for 90 caps, 1/day)
- Bluebonnet Nutrition Minerals + Boron, Iron Free (BLB-00218, $19.86 for 180 caps, 4/day)
- Natural Factors Potassium Citrate 99 mg. (NFS-01660, $4.49 for 90 tablets, 3/day)

I'd take them as follows:
- Breakfast: Solgar + 2 Bluebonnet mineral capsules
- Lunch: 2 Natural factors potassium
- Dinner: 2 bluebonnet mineral capsules
- Snack: 1 Natural factors potassium

A 90-day supply of this combo costs $71.75 (1 Solgar + 2 Bluebonnet + 3 Natural Factors). The minerals are all in very absorbably forms, citrates and chelates, the same as IP. This gets you everything IP supps offer except the Vanadium, and is short by about 85 mg on Vitamin B5 & B12. If you wanted to address the Vanadium and B5 & B12, spend $17.84 more and add

• Source Naturals Vanadium (1 mg) + Chromium (200 mcg) (SNS-01835, 1 tablet per week or 1/2 tablet twice per week, $5.46 bottle would be 2 year supply)
• Source Naturals Pantothenic Acid (SNS-00510, 1 capsule per day, $6.86 bottle is 8 month supply)
• Solgar B12 (SOL-03180, 1 tablets per day, $5.52 for 100 day supply)

I'd add these to the breakfast or dinner supplements.
Here's a spreadsheet I pulled together to summarize and compare:
IP and other supplements comparisons

I will cross post this to the Alternatives thread and my 3FC Diet Blog.

Holly thank you very much for doing all of that research on the vitamins.

:cp::cp::cp::cp:

I have started a google doc for all of the info I find on this site - so I don't have to go back and look for it later.

You're welcome! Smart move with the google doc; I use Evernote -- a web. app w/ PC & Mac desktop apps. It's all in sync and I can get to my info anywhere.

I also LOVE evernote and I have an android phone so google docs works as well!

A quick question.. from the info here (and on the bottle) it sounds like it would be safe to have 2 of the IP Potassium / Calcium tablets a day? I ask because I have been having some light headed issues (generally a few seconds after getting up) it passes quickly but still an issue. I had read that Potassium may be a fix for this... any thoughts?, please and thanks..

A fun fact ... that's called orthostatic hypotension. :twirly:

Are you getting the full recommended amount of sea salt, 1/3 or 1/2 teaspoon/day?
If not, start with that.
If yes, add an additional 1/8 teaspoon for a few days to see

The IP Potassium-Calcium supplements have 3 times more potassium in them than the potassium supplements I've listed. Potassium can only be sold over the counter in amounts up to 99 mg elemental potassium (K); more than that requires a prescription and/or supervision. It's why IP won't sell you the K-Cal supplements without regular coaching appointments and also how some clinics could be setting up themselves and their patients for problems with minimally attentive visits.

Please, please, please do not take more than one of IP's potassium tablets per day without speaking to your coach or a doctor who knows your health status and health history.

Are you getting the full recommended amount of sea salt, 1/3 or 1/2 teaspoon/day?
If not, start with that.
If yes, add an additional 1/8 teaspoon for a few days to see

Please, please, please do not take more than one of IP's potassium tablets per day without speaking to your coach or a doctor who knows your health status and health history.

I thought I was but I just a good look at a 1/2 teaspoon measure and maybe not... I was having 2 pinches with lunch and 2 with dinner and then some in my water some days. I read somewhere about actually measuring it out for the day and getting it in.I think I'll try that and thanks for the extra warning re additional tablets... That's why I asked.. :)

I'm glad you asked -- glad for you, and happy that it gave me a chance to put the warning in for others. I'll add it to the original post.

Ideal Protein/vitamins/potassium
 

I have been doing IP for 4 weeks now. Have lost 11 pounds. The past week i have been extremely fatigued, feeling like arms and legs are very heavy. I mentioned it to my coach and was told not to worry that it's likely something going on with me - not the food. Also my hands have been swelling, which is not normal for me. Again she said not to worry. Well I wasn't quite sure of that, so I started looking at the vitamin bottles and comparing labels to my own vitamins. 800 mg of potassium is a very large dose and can be dangerous with one of the side effects being heavy feeling and/or weakness in arms and legs. I believe this high of potassium dose, should be taken under a doctor's supervision. Not sure what i will do at this point. Any ideas or suggestions? Any medical people out there know if 800 mg of potassium is too much?
Thanks

is it ok to take all your supplements in the morning or the evening instead of spacing them out all through the day??

Are my vitamins ok?!
 

Hello All! I just started the IP diet yesterday and I feel pretty good so far! I am using a coach that doesn't offer the IP vitamins and she told me instead to use theirs.

I was hoping for some guidance here about the vitamins I was given. Does the below look all right to you? Am I missing something or getting too much of something? Many of the vitamins in Pill A) are again in Pill B) ... can I overdose?!

I am to take 2 different types of pills a day and 3 of each type a day. They are as follows:

Pill A)
Biotics Research Corporation
Osteo-B Plus
Serving Size 3 Tablets

Vitamin C 120 mg
Vitamin D 200 IU
Vitamin K 65 mcg
Thiamin (B1) 1.5 mg
Riboflavin (B2) 1.7 mg
Niacin 20 mg
Vitamin B6 2 mg
Folate 400 mcg
Vitamin B12 6 mcg
Biotin 300 mcg
Pantothenic Acid 10mg
Calcium 500 mg
Magnesium 200 mg
Zinc 5 mg
Copper 2 mg
Manganese 5 mg
Purified Chondroitin Sulfates 200 mg
Boron 3 mg
Sugarcane Extract (Saccharum officinarum) (shoot) 30 mg :?:

Other ingredients: Stearic acid (vegetable source), modified cellulose gum & magnesium stearate (vegetable source) :?:

Pill B)
Biotics Research Corporation
Bio-Multi Plus
Serving Size 3 Tablets

Vitamin A 7,500 IU
Vitamin C 100 mg
Vitamin D 400 IU
Vitamin E 30 IU
Vitamin K 35 mcg
Thiamin (b1) 10 mg
Riboflavin (B2) 10 mg
Niacin 20 mg
Vitamin B6 10 mg
Folate 400 mcg
Vitamin B12 10 mcg
Biotin 300 mcg
Pantothenic Acid 25 mg
Calcium 200 mg
Iron 18 mg
Iodine 150 mcg
Magnesium 100 mg
Zinc 15 mg
Selenium 50 mcg
Copper 2 mg
Manganese 2 mg
Chromium 50 mcg
Molybdenum 10 mcg
Potassium 99 mg
Boron 1 mg
Lithium 20 mcg
Rubidium 25 mcg
Vanadium 5 mcg
Citrus bioflavonoids 10 mg
Lysine 30 mg
L-Methionine 30 mg
N-Acetyl-L Cysteine 10 mg
Coenzyme -Q10 1 mg
Superoxide Dismutase 20 mcg
Catalase 20 mcg

Other ingredients: Stearic acid (vegetable source), modified cellulose gum & magnesium stearate (vegetable source) and food glaze

Thank ya'll for any and all help you can give me!!

You can register on idealtogo and they sell the actual IP brand vitamins, or check the alternative thread if you want to get your vitamins. I'm currently researching the potassium bicarbonate thing (I take potassium gluconate 2x per day at 550mg each time, totals 1100mg rather than 800mg bicarbonate), so I'll probably blog my findings, if I have time today.