A vegan diet can be quite restrictive on many different levels, and one of the ways you can still get the nutrients your body needs is with vegan supplements. Many people find that going vegan is not only difficult but can also be very restrictive and limit a wide variety of things for you. Some people who have made the switch to veganism have found that their new lifestyle has limited and changed a lot of things for them. However, there is no doubt that switching to a vegan diet can be challenging and most people find that it’s not just a change, it’s a life change. Because of this, it’s important to make sure you get the most out of your new lifestyle by including supplements to help you maintain a healthy balance and ensure you get all of the nutrients your body needs.
One of the many benefits of vegan supplements is that they provide your body with many vital vitamins, minerals and enzymes that it would normally get from natural health products like calcium, iodine and vitamin D. For example, vitamin D is vital in strengthening your bones and reducing the risks of osteoporosis. Iodine is also crucial as it works to regulate the thyroid gland and helps you control your body’s sodium and fluid levels. Vitamin B-12 is also often found in natural health products and is important as it helps reduce the risks of stroke and helps with the immune system.
However, all of those vitamins, minerals and enzymes are only useful if you consume enough of them. So how can a vitamin supplement help you get more vitamins, minerals and enzymes into your body on a daily basis? Well, a big part of supplementing is getting more of the nutrients your body needs, but with fewer sources. This is where a multi-vitamin designed specifically for vegans and vegetarians comes in handy.
You see, one of the best vegetarian food sources of iodine is seaweed. Since most vegans don’t eat the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, including all the healthful ones, a supplement might be necessary to ensure you’re getting enough iodine. Fortunately, a multi-vitamin made with iodine deficiency free fish oil, walnuts and flaxseeds contains all the essential nutrients except for the iodine. Why wouldn’t you want that? Salmon, trout, halibut and cold water fish all contain significant amounts of iodine – except for the marine species which is very low in iodine.
Another way vegan supplements can be used to meet your dietary needs is with vitamin B-12. The B-complex, as it is sometimes called, is made of four compounds – vitamin H, vitamin B-complex, niacin and pantothenic acid. In order for your body to effectively use vitamin B-12 it needs a steady diet of animal products like meat, eggs and milk but, fortunately, some vegan dieters find it difficult to do this.
Thankfully, there are many great all-natural health products on the market that make it easy to meet your daily requirements for vitamins, minerals and other nutrients while still including all the healthy choices like fruits and vegetables. One excellent example of a good vitamin B-complex supplement is called Purvita. It’s a delicious, easy to prepare vegetarian dish that uses a soy sauce flavored base and makes a satisfying breakfast or dessert. Another supplement option would be LifeCell. This all natural product is manufactured by a company in Canada and is available in several flavors including raspberry and greenberry.
While supplements are important to a vegetarian diet, the best supplements are those which have the additional benefit of being affordable. Luckily, vegan supplements are becoming more popular thanks to new plant-based ingredients that make them taste good and help meet the nutritional needs of vegans and vegetarians. For example, spirulina is an all-natural, antioxidant-rich supplement that’s often included in vegetarian diets. Tofu is another all-natural supplement that’s high in protein and low in fat. Rice bran oil is rich in fatty acids and flaxseed oil is rich in cholesterol and other important fats. Nuts and walnuts are also beneficial sources of protein, although they’re also rich in calories.
Some individuals take a multi-nutritional supplement because they want to ensure they’re getting enough vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other nutrients needed to stay healthy. For example, if you want to get enough protein to keep muscle mass, you’ll need to look for a product that has whey protein. Similarly, zinc benefits are affected by a product’s zinc levels. Whey protein and zinc are the best supplements for a bodybuilder as they enhance muscle building. Similarly, an antioxidant can be compromised if you don’t eat a healthy diet, so look for a product with vitamin C.
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