Veganism is on the rise, with many people making this significant lifestyle change to benefit both their health and the environment.
If you choose to follow a vegan or plant-based diet, it’s important to make sure you’re still getting all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients you need to support your overall health and wellbeing.
Traditionally, animal products have been a key source of vitamins and minerals for humans, but there are now plenty of vegan alternatives out there, and we’re proud to stock a great range of vegan supplements at Every Health.
From protein to iron and from calcium to omega-3, here we take a look at the recommended supplements for people following a vegan lifestyle:
1. Vegan-Friendly Protein Powders
Protein doesn’t just help us to feel fuller for longer, helping to prevent unhealthy snacking, it also plays a key role in supporting muscle mass maintenance and growth.
Dietary sources of filling protein include meat, eggs and dairy products, so if you’re following a vegan diet, you’ll need an alternative protein source.
Garden of Life has a brilliant selection of vegan-friendly protein powders in a fantastic choice of flavours, ranging from Vanilla and Chocolate to Vanilla Chai. Use them in shakes, smoothies or baking recipes for a tasty way to increase your protein intake.
Garden of Life’s protein powders are made from whole food, organic, vegan ingredients that can all be traced right back to the original seed or soil they grew from, giving you peace of mind over what you’re putting into your body.
2. Essential Vitamins
If you’re looking for a vegan-friendly multivitamin, the Klean Multivitamin from Klean Athlete contains vitamins A, B6, C, D3 and E, thanks to a unique fruit and vegetable blend that also contains antioxidants that aren’t typically found in other multivitamins.
Many vegans also like to take vitamin B12 supplements. Vitamin B12 contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, and to normal energy-yielding metabolism, but our bodies cannot produce it by themselves. This vitamin naturally occurs in animal products, so supplements are needed for those following a plant-based lifestyle.
Meanwhile, vitamin D, which contributes to the maintenance of normal bones and to the normal function of the immune system, is primarily consumed via fish, cheese and egg yolks, again leaving vegans needing an alternative source.
You can increase your intake of both of these key vitamins via Garden of Life’s vitamin sprays, which are 100% vegan and organic, available in tasty flavours (Raspberry for Vitamin B12 and Vanilla for Vitamin D), and they’re seriously easy to fit into your lifestyle.
3. Iron Supplements
We all need enough iron in our systems to carry oxygen in our blood. Some vegan-friendly sources of iron include red kidney beans, nuts and fortified breakfast cereals, but iron insufficiency (anaemia) is a big worry for a lot of people following a plant-based lifestyle.
Garden of Life’s Organics Plant Iron & Herbs formula is designed to support healthy iron levels, thanks to plant iron sourced from plants. Vitamin C, which can help to promote iron absorption, is another key ingredient, while the formula also contains vitamin B6 and B12.
4. Calcium
Dairy products are many people’s main source of calcium (which plays a key role in maintaining normal bones and teeth), which means vegans can need an alternative source. Some leafy green vegetables like broccoli and cabbage naturally contain calcium, but many people like to take a calcium supplements too.
We recommend the Organics Plant Calcium Tablets from Garden of Life, which are made with organic plant calcium and no pulverised limestone.
5. Vegan Omega-3
Most omega-3 supplements are made from fish oil, but MINAMI has a vegan-friendly omega-3 supplement made from algae oil.
VeganDHA contains high levels of DHA from sustainably sourced algae. DHA is an essential omega-3 fatty acid that’s been proven to support brain function in adults, as well as brain development in unborn babies and children.
MINAMI’s VeganDHA also contains astaxanthin, a carotenoid found in algae, which is recognised as one of the most powerful antioxidants in nature.
Find out more about the benefits of omega-3 supplements for your health and wellbeing:
