Supplementing your way to a healthy lifestyle

Written by Gursimran Kaur Anand | Apr 6, 2020 1:05:15 PM

 

People are rapidly switching to a vegan diet since it became “trendy”. However, one needs to research into the subject before they take upon this lifestyle. This diet provides a great source of nutrition without distressing the environment. Vegan diet gets a lot of well-deserved acclamation but do you need supplementary sources of nutrition along with it?

 

The supplements that you need in your day-to-day lives depend on your geographical location, your dietary patterns and your exercise routine. Although, supplements can’t be used as a food substitute, they can definitely be used to keep us going in this busy life.

These are some dietary supplements that you can intake for a better immunity, skin and hair and overall well-being:

 

  • Vitamin B12

This vitamin is usually found in animal products such as chicken, milk and eggs. Therefore, vegans and vegetarians usually have low levels of this nutrient.

However, it would be wrong to say that vegan diet does not provide a single milligram of Vitamin B12. One can find it in some breakfast cereals, meat or milk substitutes and vegan spreads. The daily recommended dose for an Adult is 25 mcg. Therefore, a minimum dosage of Vitamin B12 is required to avoid clinical deficiencies such as sore throat, poor memory, loss of energy etc.

  • Omega 3

Omega 3 fatty acids can only be absorbed in our body through a rich diet. This means that our body doesn’t naturally produce it. Although you can get this nutrient from flax seeds, chia seeds as well as animal products such as fish oil, there are Vegan Omega 3 capsules available in the market that can be used to achieve the minimum dietary level. This vitamin is beneficial for a healthy heart, skin and hair.

  • Iodine

Vegans usually have a low level of Iodine due to insufficient iodine levels in their meals. It is usually found in dairy products and varieties of fish.

Vegans can get ample of Iodine from fruits, vegetables as well as iodized salt, however it’s not enough. The minimum requirement for an Adult will range from 150-300 mcg. You can find vegan supplements which needs to be taken regularly to ensure smooth functioning of the thyroid gland.

  • Vitamin D

A vegan diet provides this nutrient in the form of dairy free milk which has sufficient levels of both Calcium and Vitamin D.  You can also get Vitamin D from going out in the sunlight.

But let’s get realistic. We, millennial and gen z do not spend our time out of the house. Most of our day is consumed in office, at home watching Netflix and just surviving through this chaotic life.

This is why it is really important to consume Vitamin D in the form of supplements. According to the International Journal of Health Sciences, a huge population suffers from Vitamin D deficiency. Therefore, it is recommended to take these supplements as per the Doctor’s prescription.

  Increasing no. of people are switching to a vegan lifestyle including some well-known Influencers and actors who practice and preach a plant based vegan diet. This is because they have numerous benefits attached to it which might be unknown to some people who have little to no information about it.

It promotes clean eating by extracting any sort of processed food that we might be consuming otherwise. It also reduces the rate at which diseases affect our body due to unhealthy lifestyle and induces weight loss.

A healthy body promotes mental and physical wellness which means you will look good outside and feel great inside.

Also, we can’t forget the environmental benefits attached to being vegan. It strives to put a stop on cruelty on animals, reduce the impact of Global Warming and promote sustainable lifestyle that doesn’t rely on killing other living beings. 

Note: The supplements suggested in this article must be taken only after consulting an Authorized Professional and must be consumed as per the dosage level recommended by them.

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