Vitamins and Minerals while Fasting

Hello,

Someone referred me to this site a while ago. I am not sure of the exact nature or purpose of this site, but after reading through a number of topics in "Fasting: Water", I can see that many here have studied fasting extensively.

My name is Olivia Cohen, and in a few hours I will complete a 2nd, 40 day water fast, and after 4 days, plan to embark on a 3rd.

I am not very confident that I will be able to finish this third fast. In addition to that, I am also not happy about taking the vitamin/mineral cocktail I take each day, although it works well. The problem is the nausea it causes and the sometimes afterward stomach discomfort. I noticed elsewhere that most here disapprove of the regimen I am taking, and I would prefer not to, but I have found nothing better at keeping my energy levels up, as well as keeping the lightheadedness and fatigue at bay.

I saw someone post that several vitamins won't work unless in combination with others, or won't work when certain others are present. I previously learned about this in college, but I am not familiar enough with the interactive properties of vitamins and minerals to use them to my advantage.

Are there vitamin/mineral supplements that are produced with these interactions in mind? The goal is to decrease the number of pills I have to take each day, though, not increase it.

Is there another way to keep my energy levels up and lightheadedness away while still maintaining the integrity of the water fast?

Here is the minimum daily amount of vitamins and minerals I take:

Three times a day I take (with 20 ounces of water each time):

1 daily multivitamin for men (Walgreen's brand)
1 daily multivitamin for women (Walgreen's brand)
1 iron tablet (any brand usually works for me)
1 b12 tablet (any brand with the highest RDA % per pill)
3 potassium pills (each from a different brand, so three brands in total each at 3% DRV)

Once a day I take:

1 sodium/salt tablet, or an empty pill capsule that has been filled with regular table salt (any brand will do for me, but I use Morton)

I also try to drink as much water during the day as I can.

While it says "three times a day", I sometimes take them as many as six, if the fatigue is becoming too great. Obviously, this is one of the worst things about the fast, though it is no where near as bad as the energy loss and fainting would be without them.

So, you see my dilemma. I was hoping someone here would have a better idea of what to do or take to keep my energy at normal levels, without having to take so many pills.

I am aware of the options to refeed longer, fast for shorter periods of time, juice fasts or the like, etc. I admit, those are tempting options, but I have done all of that in the past, and I wanted to do something different, and better this time, for spiritual reasons. I just don't want to die from it or be bedridden while I'm doing it.

I know that some will attack me as crazy/extreme/acting dangerously etc., and I won't fight back with them, because many of you are far more educated about fasting than I am, and I know everyone just has my health interests in mind. But what I really want is some help in alleviating this pill-stomach problem.

The hunger I will deal with, and there will always be some tiredness from fasting, but if at all possible, I hope someone can help rid me of having to take this high number of pills on an empty stomach.

Even if it is an answer like: "Take these vitamins together at this time, these minerals this many hours later, never take these two within this many hours of each other..." That would be wonderful.

I apologize for the long post,
And I appreciate all of your help and concern,
Olivia Cohen. Tweet