Living the vegan lifestyle has a ton of benefits which is why more people are diving into it already. The vegan movement is made even stronger thanks to the fact that it’s a lot easier to live the lifestyle thanks to the massive amount of food and supplement options available nowadays. Simply put, veganism is the practice of avoiding using or consuming any food or item that’s made out of animals or are animal byproducts.
The rise of the vegan lifestyle has paved the way for various upsides for the community. For one, there are countless vegan groceries and products popping up regularly. It used to be difficult to find adequate sources of food for vegans. You really had to go out of your way to find food before. Even though the food is now readily available for vegans, you might still be concerned about whether or not you’re getting the right nutrition. If you are new to the vegan lifestyle, you need to understand that it’s going to be a major change in diet as well.
If you want to ensure that you are as healthy as possible, then you’d want to ensure that you are getting these supplements into your body.
Vitamin K
This vitamin is a fat-soluble vitamin that is important for blood clotting and bone health. Without vitamin K, you increase your risks of having weak bones – thus making fractures and injuries very probable.
Vitamin K is found in many different foods. These include plants like lettuce, broccoli, figs, soybeans, and fermented foods like kimchi and natto. It’s very easy to keep your body high in vitamin K even if you’re a vegan.
Protein
Protein is used to support muscle growth and density. It’s a must for everyone and the main source of protein includes white meat and eggs. One of the common misconceptions is that it’s tough finding a good source of protein if you’re vegan but this has long been debunked. In fact, it’s very easy to find protein.
Some of the vegan foods that are rich in protein include seitan, tofu, edamame, lentils, chickpeas, and most beans, nutritional years, green peas, and hemp seed. The truth is that these are more effective sources of proteins for vegans because they contain high protein content.
Alternatively, there’s a wealth of vegan protein bars out on the market as well. If you are looking to build muscle by working out, protein bars are the best option without having to eat too much.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is a supplement found exclusively in animal products like dairy, meat, and eggs. You cannot find plant-based foods that have B12 which makes it very tough for vegans to find this supplement the usual method. Why go through all the trouble for B12?
The supplement plays an essential role in a person’s mental and physical health. For physical health, it can help with better nervous system function, red blood cell formation, DNA synthesis, and the prevention of anemia. On the other hand, it keeps your mood and behavior stable as well. The good news is that there are other ways you can get B12. As per nutritionists from omvits.com, a good way to get your daily dose of B12 is through vegan vitamins and food supplements. As such, it’s imperative that you try to find a good food supplement ASAP.
Alternatively, you can look for certain vegan foods. These include fortified breakfast cereals, fortified meat substitutes, and other fortified vegan products.
Iron
Iron is required to help promote better blood circulation throughout the body. Both plants and animal-based foods have iron in them. However, plant-based iron isn’t as effective or as potent as the ones found in meat and this can cause serious problems for vegans.
To get the desired or recommended amount of iron that your body needs, you need to eat the following vegan foods regularly: beans, lentils, tofu, leafy vegetables, nuts, potatoes, and fortified cereals, and bread. Don’t just eat these regularly, eat quite a lot of them as well.
Calcium
Calcium is an important supplement that keeps your bones and teeth strong. Beyond that, it can also help improve your heart’s health and muscle function too. Calcium is an important supplement to have all throughout your life but it plays a very important role for young and old people.
The primary source of calcium is dairy products that are derived from animals. The good news is that there are still many plant-based sources of calcium. These include broccoli, green leafy vegetables, tofu, fortified fruit juice, fortified plant milk, and fortified grains and cereals as well.
Iodine
This mineral is used for thyroid, bone, and brain health. The most common sources of iodine include iodized salt, seafood, and dairy products. For vegans, iodine deficiency is a common problem because of the lack of sources.
Iodized salt and seaweed are two of the best sources of iodine for vegetarians. However, make sure to regulate your intake of these. Too much salt is bad for your kidneys. On the other hand, Seaweed can contain toxic heavy metals and lead.
It can be hard balancing the nutrients and vitamins you get through a simple diet alone. If you think you aren’t getting enough, you should consider consulting with a nutritionist so they can at least tell you about what you should do with your diet to keep up with all of the needs. A good way to supplement your body with the right nutrients is by taking multi-vitamins or supplements. There are many vegan supplements nowadays too so it will be easy to give your body the sustainment it needs when the food you are eating isn’t cutting it. Getting the supplements your body needs isn’t exactly hard for a vegan. With a wealth of choices available and the amount of support that the industry has, you are sure to get all of your nutritional needs without problems. There are many other vitamins and nutrients that you need but these ones are truly essential.
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