Supplementation during fasting

[Jeremy Shepard]

What opinions does everyone have on supplementation during the fasting period?

I would definitely keep all fat-soluble supplements with the meals, but what about others? B-Complex, Vitamin C, Individual AAs...

I would imagine it would be beneficial to not supplement anything that would up-regulate endogenous antioxidant enzymes during this time. But, just wondering if anyone had information I didn't regarding other items.

[Garrett Smith]

The only supplement I'm taking during my fast days is one dropperful of Herbs Etc.'s chlorophyll, derived from urtica dioica. I'm also drinking ~64 oz. of herbal tea during the fast, so I'm getting something...

I figure, if the fasting from "food" (which is where we should be getting our nutrients from anyway) is beneficial, then eliminating supplements must have benefits in some way.

I'm assuming that during the research on IF that it was complete fasting, as in no supplements during the fast.

A less-than-24hr fast would still have people taking their supplements every day.

I like the $$ that this saves me on supplements...

[Ron Nelson]

I stick with fish oil in the morning (that's not cheating is it?) and ZMA before bed. So far, so good.
I even fought off a cold. . .or maybe it was just exhaustion posing as a cold.

[Bobby Spencer]

When fasting, I'll usually have 2-3 cups of coffee or some green tea thoughout the morning--No caffeine after 10:30 am or I will not sleep well. Usually this is liquid but sometimes with caffeine/green tea caps when rushed. If I feel like I must have my multi, I will take it with a tsp. of olive oil.(As per the advice I got here, taking the multi w/o some sort of food or fat leads to poor absorbtion.) I usually will take some ALCAR and that's about it. If going for detox, the caffeine combined with plenty of water during a fast will really do the trick. I usually fast on off days, but if I am working out on a fasting day I will have a small meal (1-2 blocks) about an hour before with some BCAAs and more ALCAR (1-2gm). I will have a small recovery meal w/5gm or CM afterward and then eat a huge meal about an hour afterward. Just before the big meal I will take some Glucosamine/Chondroitin, Digestive Enzymes, and the multi if I did not take it that morning. ZMA before bed, of course.

[Garrett Smith]

Oh, I forgot--based on the Robb Wolf-slash-Lights Out! recommendation in the PMenu, I do still take a teaspoon of my calcium-magnesium-potassium-carbonate with ascorbic acid (combines in water to form the mineral ascorbates) before bed on my fasting days...

[Stuart Mather]

Originally Posted by Ron Nelson

I stick with fish oil in the morning (that's not cheating is it?) and ZMA before bed. So far, so good.
I even fought off a cold. . .or maybe it was just exhaustion posing as a cold.

Well strictly speaking fish oil has signifigant calories (as does any fat).
I suppose you just have to decide wether 'fasting' means 'no calories'.
And although not nearly as calorie dense as fish oil, even tea and coffee have some calories (5- 15, depending on how it is prepared).

Calorie free diet drinks or water are the only calorie free liquid or solid stuff you can consume if you are following a strict definition of fasting.

[Garrett Smith]

Coffee and tea may still have a couple calories (I do both of mine with absolutely nothing added other than a few spices, mostly clove/nutmeg/cinnamon), and I'd much rather have those than artificially sweetened drinks...I am after health, after all.

The fish oil definitely isn't totally "fasting".

[Pierre Auge]

what I've noticed is that if you are going to be very physically active during the fasting period a dose or two of fish oil will provide enough caloric content to help a person perform well...

I've also found that consuming fish oil during a fast will aid with fat adaptation but those are just my observations...

[Mike ODonnell]

Won't taking fish oil when fasting/empty stomach part of the day tell the body to use the fat as a fuel source rather than inflammation control? I take mine at night with dinner.

[Pierre Auge]

MOD thats what I'm saying!