Have you recently adopted a vegan lifestyle? Wondering if you need to start taking supplements?
While living a vegan lifestyle offers a lot of benefits to the environment and your body, it also comes with its difficulties. When living a vegan lifestyle, it can be tough to get the right amount of important vitamins and minerals into your diet.
Fortunately, this is where supplements come in. Below we’ll tell you why supplements are crucial when living a vegan lifestyle.
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Vitamin B12 is Hard to Come By
One of the top reasons that vegans should consider taking supplements is that vitamin B12 can be hard to get into your diet through meals alone. These days many people get B12 into their bodies through eating meat, so it can be especially difficult for vegans to get the right amount.
B12 serves can help the body in several ways such as by improving heart health and strengthening the nervous system. It can also help the body produce red blood cells and can support hair growth as well.
While it can take a while to experience the effects of B12 deficiency, becoming B12 deficient is a real possibility for vegans. To avoid this, you may want to consider taking a vitamin B12 supplement.
Additionally, if you’re interested in the hair growth benefits of B12, then you may want to consider getting a multivitamin. You’ll want to look for a great vegan option that provides B12 along with other vitamins that you need for hair growth.
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You May Not Be Getting Enough Sun
Vitamin D is another vitamin that vegans are often deficient in, although the same is true for meat-eaters as well. Vitamin D helps with improving metabolism and also allows for healthier teeth, bones, and muscles.
Most people primarily get their vitamin D from sun exposure, and many people aren’t spending enough time under the sun to have a sufficient amount. Particularly in regions where there isn’t much sunlight or in the winter months, it becomes especially important to add a vitamin D supplement into your daily intake to ensure you’re experiencing the benefits of this vitamin.
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You Need More Iodine
Another supplement you may want to consider adding into your daily intake as a vegan is Iodine. Many vegans don’t get enough Iodine because most people tend to get it through sources such as fish and dairy.
Iodine helps to improve the functioning of the thyroid and can improve metabolism. It can also help with fertility as well.
Eating certain plants and foods, such as seaweed, can be a good way to get Iodine. However, it’s often a better choice to take an Iodine supplement instead or to start adding Iodine fortified foods into your diet.
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Supplements Are Great For Getting Iron
Iron is another essential that you may want to consider taking in supplement form if you’re a vegan. Iron can help facilitate the movement of oxygen throughout your body and can also help ensure that your body’s red blood cells are healthy.
While iron is found in many plant-based sources such as leafy greens and nuts, absorbing this iron can be difficult for the human body. Taking a vitamin C supplement can help with the absorption of iron, but in many cases, it’s a great idea to take an iron supplement as well.
You’ll want to check with your doctor to find out what your iron levels are and to get advice on whether you should start taking an iron supplement each day.
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Plant-Based Calcium May Not Be Enough
If you’re a vegan, it’s also a good idea to take a calcium supplement. Like iron, calcium from plant-based sources can be difficult to absorb so this can a problem when living a vegan lifestyle.
As many people know, calcium leads to healthy bones and can prevent fractures. It can also help your body to regulate blood flow and your heartbeat as well.
While you can get calcium from plant-based sources, it’s a great idea to ensure you’re getting enough calcium by taking a supplement or by eating fortified foods.
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Supplements Are Helpful For Getting Omega-3s
You may also want to start taking an Omega-3 supplement on a daily basis if you’re a vegan.
Omega-3 fatty acids offer numerous benefits to the body. This includes the prevention of inflammation and it can also help to improve the health of the eyes, the heart, and the brain.
Both vegans and non-vegans alike are unable to create omega-3 fatty acids in their body naturally, so it’s important to look for them in external sources.
Eating the right foods can be a good way to get omega-3s into your diet. Chia seeds, flax seeds, walnuts, tofu, and wild rice are all good foods that feature plenty of omega-3 fatty acids. Taking an omega-3 supplement, however, can be a great way to get them into your diet as well.
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You Might Not Be Getting Enough Protein
While there are plenty of great vegan sources for protein, it can still be worthwhile to take a protein supplement if you’re a vegan. Taking a vegan protein supplement can help you to get the protein you need into your diet and will help ensure that you’re feeling fully satisfied throughout the day.
Another benefit of taking a protein supplement is that you’ll get more individual amino acids as well. This will help you to get the right combinations of protein that will be best for your overall health.
While you may be able to get enough protein through your diet alone, you may want to consider taking a protein supplement if you want to improve your health and make sure that you’re feeling your best each day.
Choosing the Right Supplements to Take As a Vegan
If you’re a vegan, you need to understand the importance of adding the right supplements to your diet. By taking the right supplements, you’ll make the vegan lifestyle much easier on yourself and will ensure that you remain as healthy as possible.
Looking for more health tips and advice? Start reading through our blog now to find more helpful articles and guides.
