A Vegan's Guide to Nutrient Supplements

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Whether a person is a vegan or not, everyone should be aware of the possibility of nutrient deficiencies. For vegans, a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, grains, beans and some seeds or nuts can help with including the appropriate amount of vitamins and nutrients needed to maintain a healthy balance. However, many vegans still don't get the recommended amounts of some important nutrients including calcium, vitamin B12 and vitamin D. The University of Eastern Finland recently performed a study showing that vegans adhere to nutrition recommendations in varying degrees. The researchers say this evidence highlights the need of vegans to get nutrition guidance and to use recommended nutrient supplements. Moreover, closer attention should be paid to the intake of vitamin D and iodine among vegans. The following are some of the nutrient supplements that may assist vegans in staying healthy.

Calcium

Surprisingly enough, there is less calcium in actual cow milk than there is in many brands of vegan almond or soy milk. Be sure to check the label to make sure the brand being purchased has plenty of calcium to meet daily needs. Without drinking these vegan milks, and eating tofu, beans and greens, it's easy to end up with a calcium deficiency. While some calcium supplements have non-vegan coatings or ingredients, there are vegan options for those considering this supplement.

Vitamin B12

This one's a biggie due to the large number of health issues a body deficient in vitamin B12 can fall victim to. Foods fortified with lab-cultured B12 are the main food source that have a large enough amount of B12 for vegans. People should have their blood checked to ensure the existence of the right levels of nutrients. Supplement levels may need to be adjusted if vitamin B12 levels are off. Both vegans and non-vegans should consider taking some form of B12 supplement if they feel they might be deficient. Always consult with a physician before changing dietary plans or supplement regimens.

Vitamin D

There are three prominent ways to receive vitamin D. Because this is a vitamin that doesn't naturally exist in unfortified foods, the three main ways to get vitamin D are taking supplements, exposing skin to the sun, and drinking fortified milks. Many people live in environments that receive little sunlight - this, among other reasons, makes taking a supplement a good option. Some vegans can get the recommended daily amount of vitamin D by drinking a few glasses of soy or almond milk every day as long as the milk's label shows that it contains vitamin D. If you're a vegan, then browse our store and try some of these supplements to try to stay healthy.