4 Vegan Supplements to Add to Your Supplement Stack
Whether you like it or not, the vegan movement is here and is here to stay. In fact, the vegan movement is growing at an impressive rate. If you follow a plant-based diet, it’s important to ensure that you’re getting plenty of nutrients in your body and giving it the nutrition that it needs. Vegan supplements are no substitution for whole foods, but when used in conjunction with a healthy diet, they can really make a difference. But which supplements are best for those of you following a vegan plant-based diet and lifestyle? Take a look and find out, as we list 4 vegan supplements to add to your supplement stacks.
Vitamin B12 – B vitamins are very important for all of us, yet for vegans, they’re particularly important. Vitamin B12 for example, plays a key role in countless physiological processes, including the functioning of a healthy metabolism, and the production of red blood cells, which then transport oxygen around your body. Those deficient in this mineral will often suffer from lethargy and fatigue. The best dietary sources of this vitamin are those found in meat, fish, and dairy. As vegans cannot eat these foods, vitamin B12 is one of the best vegan supplements you could wish for.
Vegan protein blends – There are many popular vegan protein supplements currently on the market, with: Pea protein, hemp protein, brown rice protein, and recently, lentil protein, all proving especially popular. However, each of these proteins offers its own unique nutritional qualities such as different mineral contents, different amino acid contents, different rates of absorption, and so on. Vegan protein blends are basically protein supplements made up of a blend of three, and sometimes four in the case of lentil, plant-based protein sources so you get the best of all worlds. Protein is essential for muscle growth, function, and repair, as well as cellular health and more.
Iron – Iron is a mineral used by the body in the production of red blood cells, haemoglobin, and healthy DNA strands. Needless to say, it’s very important. Whilst there are plenty of plant-based foods that have impressive iron contents, the problem for vegans is that these foods provide non-heme iron. Heme iron is only found in animal sources such as red meat. Non-heme iron is far less bio-available than heme iron, which means that we absorb less from the foods we consume. To compensate for this, it is recommended that vegans supplement with an iron supplement on a daily basis.
Zinc – Zinc is another important mineral that many vegans sometimes lack. Zinc boosts immunity, it regulates your hormones, it speeds up cellular recovery, and it ramps up your metabolism. Unfortunately, some of the best dietary sources of zinc are red meat and shellfish, which again, are off limits for vegans. A zinc supplement consumed on a daily basis should see you right.