Best Vegan Supplements: Your Guide To Buying The Right Ones

The Benefits Of A Vegan Diet 

Veganism is definitely not a new food trend. Hundreds of thousands of people across the globe are leading a vegan lifestyle. And it’s not hard to see why. 

Many take the leap towards a vegan diet because of their compassion towards animals and wanting to cut out all animal-based products. The thought of the less than humane living conditions that these animals go through has been a leading driver for vegan activism all over the world. Others, however, want to have a more positive impact on the environment. 

It’s no surprise that the natural resources needed to raise and farm animals have a detrimental effect on the environment. According to studies, the cultivation of feed crops for animals produces up to 18% of the world’s greenhouse gases. By choosing a vegan diet, you are actively tackling these problems.

While that in itself is amazing. Choosing a vegan lifestyle also offers a whole range of health benefits including lowering cholesterol levels, a decreased risk of heart disease and even staving off arthritis. It’s only natural that vegan and organic products are now becoming the healthier and more ethical food choice for many across the globe.

Think You Don’t Need Supplements, Think Again

Having said that, it is still important that you are providing your body with all the nutrients and essentials that it needs. Although a vegan lifestyle is certainly healthy, that doesn’t mean you won’t be prone to nutrient deficiencies. That’s why vegan supplements are highly recommended. 

Many people who give up animal products can often begin to feel tired and have low energy levels. This is because meat products give us critical nutrients that our bodies need which we often can’t get from plant-based foods. By not using supplements for your vegan diet, you could put yourself at risk of both short and long-term health problems. 

Whether you are new to the plant-based diet or not, become aware of the supplements that you should be taking as part of your lifestyle. If you think that you can skip them, think again.

Best Vegan Supplements That You Should Consider

Any diet that requires you to remove a whole food group requires plenty of meal planning as well as supplementation. Below, we talk through the best vegan supplements that you should be taking every day to stay healthy and vitalized.

B12 Vitamins

One of the best vegan supplements that you can take is vitamin B12. If you have been feeling tired lately, this vitamin will give you the perk up that you need. The reason why nutritionists and medical professionals recommend this vitamin while on a plant-based diet is because it is produced by bacteria most often found in the intestinal tracts of animals. 

Vitamin B12 is also important for fighting against heart disease, anaemia and damage to the central nervous system. Everyone should be getting the recommended dosage of 2.4mg per day and taking a vegan supplement is a great way to meet this.

Calcium

There’s a long-standing debate in the vegan community around the necessary calcium requirements that humans actually need. Although there haven’t been extensive studies on how meatless and dairyless diets affect calcium needs, that doesn’t mean it should be ignored.

While vegans can get calcium from eating green vegetables and plants, there is evidence to show that those who don’t get enough are at a higher risk of developing bone fractures. Not only that, but calcium is also essential for our muscle function, heart health and of course, our bone health. 

As a vegan supplement, calcium is one that you have as a top priority on your supplement list. Try out the Vital Earth Minerals Calcium Magnesium Liquid – it is one of our favorites.

Protein Powders

If you are an active vegan, then having a protein vegan supplement is the way to go. While protein deficiencies aren’t as common as that of vitamin B12 or calcium, it still vital for a healthy body. 

Protein as a nutrient is basically the building block for our hair, nails, skin and blood. It also plays a huge part in the healing process. And because animal products are packed full with it, removing this food group puts you at risk of not getting enough. If you don’t pay enough attention that is.

That’s why many vegans choose to use protein powder as a supplement to their vegan diet. Protein powders provide convenient, affordable and an easily digestible way to make sure that you continue to get sufficient levels of this key nutrient. 

We love the protein powders that come from the Plant Fusion range. Not only are they of great value but better yet, they have a great selection of flavors to choose from including vanilla, chocolate, caramel and our personal favorite…chocolate raspberry.

Vitamin D

We all need vitamin D and the fact of the matter is, with our busy daily lives it isn’t always easy to get the recommended daily amount. When your sunlight and outdoor activities are limited, either because of a hectic work schedule or during the winter months, a vitamin D vegan supplement is a great choice. 

When looking for vitamin D supplements, choose one that is rich in vitamin D3 as this is often the hardest type to get from a plant-based diet.

Omega-3

One of the best vegan supplements that we recommend including in your daily routine is omega-3. You’ve all probably heard it by now that cold-water fish is a great source. That’s true but only for one particular reason. 

As a vegan, you will know that you can get omega-3 fatty acids from sources such as flax and chia seeds. But there is different chains of these acids that you can get in your daily diet. The short-chain, ALA, is more common in vegan-friendly foods. While the long-chain, DHA, is more common in oily fish. It is these long-chain omega-3 fatty acids that are needed for brain health. 

That is why opting for an omega-3 supplement as part of your vegan diet is highly encouraged.

Multivitamins

A vegan diet does offer plenty of great nutrients but sometimes a few can fall through the cracks. That is where taking a multivitamin as part of your vegan supplements will be a great addition to your daily life. 

Two reasons for this are zinc and iodine. There are very few vegan food sources that offer us the levels of zinc and iodine that we really need. Iodine is necessary for healthy thyroid function while we need zinc for improved immune function and for help repairing body cells. That is where multivitamins come in.

Multivitamins are created to ensure that everyone gets an adequate level of nutrients each day. For those nutrients that are difficult to include in a plant-based diet, taking a vegan multivitamin is a great alternative.

Iron 

Finally, the last recommendation on our guide to the best vegan supplements to take is iron. Although many plants and vegetables are abundant in iron, for some people it can be a challenge to get enough. 

Before you dive into the supplement aisle of your favorite in-person or online health store, if you are afraid that your iron levels are low, go to the doctor first. It is possible to consume too much iron and doing so can be very harmful to our health.

With your doctor’s advice, an iron vegan supplement can be great for ensuring that you aren’t becoming anaemic and for decreasing levels of fatigue.

The GreenLine Market: Your Go-To Place For Vegan Essentials 

Here at the GreenLine Market, we want to make sure that you are equipped with all the vegan essentials that you need for your lifestyle. And that includes vegan supplements and vitamins.

We believe in providing the best in organic and vegan products – so if you are looking to take some supplements as part of your vegan diet you have come to the right place. Come and shop your values with us.