Should Supplements Count Towards Macros?

wswilliams67

I take a ton of varies supplements, some for my Diabetes and some for fitness. I'm mainly asking if my Fish Oil and Coconut Oil (MCTs) should be counted into my macronutrient limits? The oils are fats, but I haven't been adding them into my food diary and was wondering if I should bother. Any thoughts?

Dlacenere

I definitely count it in mine

deniseblossoms

I count mine too

SpazzyMal

If you ingest it, then I say log it. Especially oils, since they can definitely add calories.

Chenoachem

I see some people count them. However, I never have and it hasn't hindered my weight loss or maintenance of weight loss. I think you should do what works for you.

wswilliams67

Wow fast responses! Thanks guys and gals! I'll start tracking them as well then. Maybe I won't have to eat so many almonds to reach my fat counts LOL.

slkehl

The usefulness of supplements is debatable. You're separating one component from the food that it is found in. There are many complex chemical interactions between food components, some of which likely "activate" the vitamin/mineral/ect. Take it out alone and it won't work as well, if at all. Therefore, I wouldn't even take supplements as a healthy individual eating a balanced nutritious diet. Besides, eating actual fish and coconut is much more tasty anyway and, imo, a better use of the money you'd be spending on supplements.

TheVimFuego

I guess that you *should* track everything and hope that the numbers are vaguely accurate.

I take the apparently left-field view that a body with a healthy metabolism can handle *reasonable* daily variances in calorie intake (I'm talking a few hundred, not thousands) and still stay lean so I don't bother with my Omega 3s and whatever. There are more important things to target for me.

I think that excess intake does not have to translate to weight gain, within reason.

Then again I have never logged exercise or alcohol either so it's probably best to ignore me.

Whatever works for you and keeps you on track though.

wswilliams67

The usefulness of supplements is debatable. You're separating one component from the food that it is found in. There are many complex chemical interactions between food components, some of which likely "activate" the vitamin/mineral/ect. Take it out alone and it won't work as well, if at all. Therefore, I wouldn't even take supplements as a healthy individual eating a balanced nutritious diet. Spend your money on actual fish and coconut instead of supplements for better results.

While I completely respect your opinion, I'm not a 100% healthy person. The complexities of managing my blood glucose make supplementation somewhat of a necessity at this time, which is why I posed my original question. My fish oil is for the omegas and the coconut oil is to help offset my extremely low carb intake is all. Other than those really, everything else I take has to do with glucose/insulin synthesis. My goal is to reach a weight and lifestyle that requires me to take ZERO diabetes meds, but that is several months away. Once I'm there, I'll be able to better maintain things through nutrition alone.

TheVimFuego

The usefulness of supplements is debatable. You're separating one component from the food that it is found in. There are many complex chemical interactions between food components, some of which likely "activate" the vitamin/mineral/ect. Take it out alone and it won't work as well, if at all. Therefore, I wouldn't even take supplements as a healthy individual eating a balanced nutritious diet. Besides, eating actual fish and coconut is much more tasty anyway and, imo, a better use of the money you'd be spending on supplements.

You have a fair point, I take Omega 3 capsules but I understand that they are easily oxidised so the chances are that most capsules we buy aren't as good for us as we think. I still chug vitamin C daily and swear I am healthier for it though.

Taking calcium in isolation for bone health, for example, is like dumping some bricks on the footpath and expecting a house to be built.

TheVimFuego

While I completely respect your opinion, I'm not a 100% healthy person. The complexities of managing my blood glucose make supplementation somewhat of a necessity at this time, which is why I posed my original question. My fish oil is for the omegas and the coconut oil is to help offset my extremely low carb intake is all. Other than those really, everything else I take has to do with glucose/insulin synthesis. My goal is to reach a weight and lifestyle that requires me to take ZERO diabetes meds, but that is several months away. Once I'm there, I'll be able to better maintain things through nutrition alone.

Mate, I agree with you, I'd keep doing it.

I also understand it's not optimal but let's face it, eating wild-caught salmon everyday isn't practical.

Logging them or not.

wswilliams67

Between the fish oil and the coconut oil I was not accounting for 5.5g of fat daily. With a 70g/day limit it's hard to get to that without breaking my caloric intake limit so knowing the extra 5.5g are there helps.

wswilliams67

Here's my supplementation list... http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/wswilliams67/view/my-supplementation-427553