Vegan or plant based diets are becoming evermore popular, which an increase in those looking for more ethical products where none of the ingredients are sourced from animals. As well as ethics there has been an increase in studies showing that eating a more plant-based diet is healthier. A plant based diet also supports reduction in diabetes, high blood pressure, and coronary artery disease events.

Eight Important nutrients on a Vegan diet

1. Vitamin B12. 

The one major nutrient that a vegan can become deficient in is vitamin B12, found mainly in animal foods. A vitamin B12 deficiency can give symptoms such as fatigue, weakness and memory loss. 

2. Iron. 

Iron is also an important nutrient for the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.

3. Calcium. 

Calcium is important and needs to be included in a good multivitamin and mineral supplement for vegans, especially in the organic form of calcium citrate, which does not require stomach acid to be absorbed.

4. Vegan Vitamin D3. 

Vitamin D3 is important to ensure efficient calcium absorption. Vitamin D2 can be obtained from mushrooms but research shows that vitamin D3 is 87 per cent more effective in raising and maintaining vitamin D levels than D2.

5. Choline. 

Choline is in high amounts in eggs, harder to come by on a vegan diet and is important for liver function, healthy memory and cognitive function. 

6. Biotin. 

Biotin is crucial for the release of energy.

7. Magnesium. 

For the reduction of tiredness and fatigue

8. Zinc. 

Zinc for the normal function of the immune system and vegan certified seaweed, providing iodine, which is crucial for healthy thyroid function and nervous system and cognitive function.

See Naturobotanica Vegan Supplements here

Are your Supplements Vegan?

Always look for the trademark of the vegan society

Five Ingredients in your supplements that are not Vegan friendly.  

1. Gelatine. 

Some supplement capsules are made of gelatine which is extracted from skin, boiled crushed horn, hoof and bones, connective tissues, organs and some intestines of cattle, chicken, pigs and horses.

2. Lanolin. 

Some Vitamin D3 supplements are made from lanolin which is obtained from sheep’s wool wax. 

3. Magnesium stearate 

Magnesium stearate is common in the manufacturing of many supplements and is often derived from pork.

4. Lipase 

Lipase is an ingredient used in digestive enzymes for the digestion of fats. Vegan enzyme supplements are readily available. In most cases, the lipase in these products are is derived from Aspergillus niger. This is a fungus-based, fermented product rather than ox or hog bile, which is the usual extract used for lipase supplements. (2)

5. Pepsin 

Pepsin can be animal derived too. 

References

1. A Plant-Based Diet, Atherogenesis, and Coronary Artery Disease Prevention https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC43153...

2. Lipase: the Digestive Enzyme that Fights Major Diseases https://draxe.com/nutrition/lipase/