A vegan diet is one of the most naturally balanced diet, you can get. Contrary to conventional presumptions, vegan ingredients contain almost all the vitamins and minerals needed for healthy living.
Plant-based meats and greens like broccoli also contain sufficient protein to maintain an optimal metabolic process. As a matter of fact, most plants contain more protein than steak, eggs and dairy products. Research studies also indicate that vegans are less likely to suffer vitamin and mineral deficiencies compared to those who eat animal products.
Powerful animals like elephant, rhino, buffalo and other grazers all depend on plants for sustenance and are among the healthiest mammals you will come across. Here are some answers to some of your common questions about vegan multivitamins.
Do you need vegan multivitamin supplements?
Although vegan diets virtually contain all the essential nutrients, it is still recommendable to supplement your diet with multivitamins. According to research studies, all vegan diets seem to lack one essential vitamin (B12). Vitamin B12 is abundant in animal ingredients such as meat, eggs, and dairy products.
The most active form of vitamin B12 in the human body is Methylcobalamin. It offers methyl groups that are required for red blood cell formation, detox functions and central nervous system (CNS) among other vital functions. Unfortunately for vegans, their only options come from nutritional yeast and fermented foods.
Supplementation can help maintain optimum levels of this essential nutrient without crossing over to animal products. But how effective are these multivitamins?
What are the key minerals and vitamins in multivitamin supplements?
There are several vegan multivitamins in the market and finding reliable products should not be a problem. However, not all supplements are created equally. Some contain vitamin B12 as the main nutrient while others integrate various minerals and compounds within the formula such as omega 3 and vitamin d.
Vegan multivitamins are designed to deliver different nutrients that are naturally scarce in plant-based cuisines. They contain key minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins. The best products feature vitamin B12, A, C, D and E, magnesium, iron, zinc, calcium, iodine, and biotin among others.
Do vegan multivitamins offer the optimum nutrition?
Vegan multivitamins are quite effective in delivering essential nutrients that are deficient in plant ingredients. Offering these nutrients in stable form improves absorption and metabolism. It also prevents mineral and vitamin deficiency. Nonetheless, you should carefully assess your diet to determine what requires supplementation. It is also very important to review existing multivitamins before including them in your diet.
You can see this list of vegan multivitamins to compare the popularly recommended options. It includes vitamin B12 (which is the most deficient in vegan diets) as well as other minerals and nutrients.
Are vegan multivitamins plant based?
When choosing vegan multivitamins, you should pay attention to all the ingredients in the formula. Manufacturers sometimes include additional compounds to their formulas for various reasons that range from stability to sweetening and longer shelf life.
Make sure your supplement does not contain any known allergens, gluten, wheat, peanuts, eggs, and animal products. More importantly, verify that they are indeed vegan multivitamins. All ingredients should be plant-based and organic/natural. Avoid synthetic compounds as much as possible, especially those that might be derived from animal products.
The final word…
Using multivitamin supplements is the ideal way to inject sufficient amounts of all essential minerals and vitamins into your vegan diet. The best multivitamins can be taken on an empty stomach, mixed with meals or blended with shakes and smoothies. Visit the following site if you want a comprehensive review and buying guide of the 6 best vegan multivitamin supplements.
They are not only effective in delivering key nutrients and preventing deficiencies but also come with added benefits that range from immune strengthening to increased energy and antioxidants. Make sure your multivitamins are food-based. If you are interested in learning more about vegan, we wrote this article on vegan grooming.