Lowest calories for complete RDA

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Replies

  • nicolalane716
    nicolalane716 Posts: 14 Member
    VLCDs are against community rules - but they aren't plain stupid. VLCDs are perfectly safe - as long as they are done properly and by appropriate people, and preferably with medical supervision.

    Unfortunately too many people decide that they can do a "homemade" VLCD, or start one with a medical condition that will cause problems, or just generally don't know what they are doing and assume that because they feel fine today then they are fine - when nutritional deficiencies take time to show up.

    I suspect community guidelines are against VLCDs because of the pitfalls - and because it is so difficult to get a safe one in the States (or so I understand). I find it sad that it has to be that way.
  • lorib642
    lorib642 Posts: 1,942 Member
    OP were you able to talk your friend out of the homemade VLCD ?
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  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    I wish to follow this path, one day, when I can walk on water.
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  • nicolalane716
    nicolalane716 Posts: 14 Member
    Actually a modern VLCD (as in one sold by a reputable company in the last 20 years) doesn't necessarily need a doctor monitoring. In Europe and the UK we actually have laws about the content and marketing of VLCDs and similar to make sure that all the nutrients are in there and they are not marketed to the wrong people and with outrageous claims.

    There is a lot of info here: http://www.foodedsoc.org/vlcdtest2.htm but it is old and some of the links will require wayback machine.

    I actually advise doctor monitoring for everyone on a severe diet - because if you need one you are likely to have health complications - even if you don't know it.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,428 MFP Moderator
    GaleHawkins wrote: »

    Actually I was try to counter false states that a calorie is a calorie because we know that a 100 calorie of carb in the body can produce a different result than say a 100 calories of fat or protein.

    You can try to counter this response all you want but you are wrong as indicated by the thread that you tried to make this statement. But if you want to discussion, please start another thread. There is no need to hijack a thread that isn't even discussing if a calorie is a calorie.

    OP, realistically to understand if 800 calories is enough, there are many factors. Is the person morbidly obese, do they have medical issues. For the average person, 800 calories is probably not going to be enough calories to ensure you meet all your nutritional needs, especially if you are exercising. But if you a person does an 800 calorie diet (as is usual with lap band patients) then it's generally advise to be under the care of a physician to ensure your numbers aren't going out of whack.



  • nicolalane716
    nicolalane716 Posts: 14 Member
    My personal view is that if you are using foods commonly found in a supermarket then to make sure you have all the essential vitamins/minerals fats and proteins you are likely to either be a real hotshot dietitian and go for a minimum of 800 - or 1200 to be safe, especially if you aren't a dietitian and you are trying to work from textbooks.

    But I have no proof of that! Does anyone have any ideas where I can find a respectable dietitian, textbook or study that I can point to and say "look respected person agrees, you can't design a nutritionally complete diet that is only 600 cals a day"
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    nicolalane716 wrote: »
    But I have no proof of that! Does anyone have any ideas where I can find a respectable dietitian, textbook or study that I can point to and say "look respected person agrees, you can't design a nutritionally complete diet that is only 600 cals a day"

    Look at Slim fast, Optifast and similar products you'll see 100% nutrition achieved via a pile of specific additives. I did spend half a day once wringing out 100% RDA from 1200 cals of food, it is achievable but not easy and you end up with lots of different foods in small portions.
  • nicolalane716
    nicolalane716 Posts: 14 Member
    I know you can get 100% RDA from commercial products designed for that - but what are the minimum cals you need to get 100% RDA from "ordinary" foods - with an authority reference.

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