Tag Archives: Vegan 1-a-Day Multivitamin by Deva Nutrition

Thoughts On “Going Vegan”

GoingVeganJacquie Eubanks RN BSN

Interest in the vegan lifestyle is steadily rising worldwide. The global shift away from animal product consumption and toward a plant-based diet appears to be rapidly gaining acceptance. The research firm GlobalData reported a 600 percent increase in Americans identifying as vegan in the last three years. Within the last decade, veganism increased by 350 percent in the U.K. and 400 percent in Portugal. Impressive increases were also found in Israel, Australia, Canada, Austria and New Zealand. More evidence suggests that a plant-based diet is not a fad, but a growing trend that is steadily becoming more acceptable and mainstream. An increasing number of believers perceive an ethical and sustainable lifestyle to be an important component of their wellbeing, as many report increased energy, more restful sleep, better mood, proper weight, and a genuine feeling of overall wellness.

Evidence suggests that an ovo-lacto-vegetarian diet, a largely plant-based diet that includes eggs and dairy products, offers protection against cardiovascular diseases, some cancers and total mortality. Scientific research shows that health benefits increase as the amount of food from animal sources decreases. Vegan diets appear to offer additional protection against obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular mortality. Those who follow a vegan diet tend to have lower body weight, lower serum cholesterol and lower blood pressure, reducing their risk of developing heart disease. A vegan diet with increased intake of fruits and vegetables provides high levels of protective nutrients and phytochemicals, minimizing the dietary factors implicated in certain chronic diseases.

Those new to plant-based diets should be careful not to trade animal protein for processed foods that provide calories but little nutritional value. Some who consider a plant-based diet worry about protein intake. However, a well-balanced varied diet can provide many sources of plant-based protein, including soy products, quinoa, wild or black rice, millet, legumes, nuts, beans, seeds, mushrooms, cruciferous vegetables. and many dark colored, leafy greens. Vegans and vegetarians do need to plan ahead to ensure they get all the essential amino acids typically obtained from animal protein, as well as calcium, nonheme iron, vitamin D, zinc, vitamin B12 and fatty acids. Regular intake of B12 is essential with a vegan diet. Although tempeh, miso and some fermented foods provide a limited source of B12, to ensure B12 sufficiency care should be taken to supplement the diet with multivitamins, nutritional yeast or fortified foods and drinks. Chlorella, spirulina, moringa and sprouted legumes/seeds can provide additional protein and nutrients.

Sufficient calcium can be obtained from dark green leafy vegetables, beans, calcium- fortified juice or soymilk. Iron is plentiful in whole grains, beans, olives, prunes, nuts, seeds, lentils and soybeans. As plant-based non-heme iron is more difficult to absorb than iron found in animal products, consuming foods rich in vitamin C along with plant foods can help increase absorption. Vitamin D fortified foods and daily vitamin D supplementation can ensure adequate vitamin D status. Vegans should  regularly consume plant foods rich in the fatty acid ALA, such as ground flaxseed, walnuts and hemp-seed based beverages, and can also benefit from DHA-rich microalgae supplements. Whole grains, legumes, soy and zinc-fortified foods can provide sufficient zinc intake.

Potential vegans who try to eliminate all animal products at once are the least likely to maintain a vegan diet long-term. Switching to a vegan diet can be done gradually by adding more plant-based foods and meals to your diet as you eliminate animal products. Transitioning to a vegan diet should be smooth, steady and adventurous. Acquiring a vegan cookbook or two that provide recipes for quick and easy home cooked meals is highly recommended, as diet diversity must be considered when switching to a plant-based diet. Veganizing your diet helps to eliminate some of the unhealthier processed foods you might be eating but be wary of substituting these foods with too many processed vegan foods.

Once on an all vegan diet, you may feel hungrier and may need to eat more often, as whole plant-based foods are nutrient dense but low in calories. Consuming more complex starchy carbohydrates, such as sweet potatoes, root vegetables and whole grains, can help keep hunger pangs at bay and support steady energy production. While a proper vegan diet consisting of unprocessed single ingredient foods is health promoting, a poorly planned vegan diet may often result in nutrient deficiencies. Vegans must take nutrition seriously to ensure an adequate intake of nutrients, including essential vitamins and minerals. Even with a diet based around nutrient-rich whole plant and fortified foods, many vegans look to intelligent supplementation to maximize their nutrition in support of optimal health and function.

Professional Supplement Center offers these and other high quality supplements in support of optimal nutrition:

Vitamin B12Vitamin B12 by Designs for Health: Each berry flavored lozenge provides 5000 mcg of highly bioavailable vitamin B12 as methylcobalamin. Gluten-free, Non-GMO formulation.

 

Blood BuilderBlood Builder® by MegaFood®: This synergistic whole food product delivers iron, vitamin C, folate and B12 in support of healthy red blood cell and energy production. Free of gluten, soy and lactose. Non-GMO, kosher vegan formulation.

 

B12-Active™ CHERRYB12-Active™ by Integrative Therapeutics®: These natural cherry flavored chewable tablets provide B12 as methylcobalamin, a highly bioavailable form that doesn’t require conversion by the body to be utilized. Free of gluten, wheat, dairy, yeast, soy, animal products, preservatives and artificial ingredients. Vegetarian formulation.

 

Essential AminosEssential Aminos by Pure Encapsulations®: This hypoallergenic supplement provides free form amino acids in support of the building and repair of heathy muscles and tissues. Essential Aminos provides the essential amino acids that may be limited or lacking in the diet. Gluten and soy free, Non-GMO vegetarian formulation.

 

Vegan 1-a-Day...Vegan 1-a-Day Multivitamin by Deva® Nutrition: Specifically formulated to meet the nutritional requirements of vegans and vegetarians, this high-potency, balanced multiple vitamin and mineral formula is enriched with whole green foods, vegetable powders and botanicals. Free of yeast, wheat, gluten, starch, sugar, salt, hexane, dairy, egg, fish, artificial flavor or fragrance and animal products, byproducts or derivatives. Certified Vegan formulation.

 

O.N.E. MultivitaminO.N.E.™ Multivitamin by Pure Encapsulations®: This comprehensive, hypoallergenic, vegetarian formulation provides highly bioavailable forms of vitamins, minerals and essential nutrients. Gluten free, Non-GMO formulation.

References:
Beyond Meatless, the Health Effects of Vegan Diets: Findings from the Adventist Cohorts. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4073139/
Vegetarian Foods: Powerful for Health. https://www.pcrm.org/health/diets/vegdiets/vegetarian-foods-powerful-for-health
Health effects of vegan diets. https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/89/5/1627S/4596952
21 Vegetarian Foods That Are Loaded With Iron. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/iron-rich-plant-foods
Top 15 Calcium-Rich Foods (Many Are Non-Dairy). https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/15-calcium-rich-foods

Omega-3’s for Vegetarians

Omega3_VegJacquieIconBy Jacquie Eubanks
BSN, RN

Omega-3’s are called “essential” fatty acids because the body requires them for the vital role they play in the health of all bodily cells. Although essential for optimal health, the body cannot manufacture these polyunsaturated fats and they must be obtained through dietary sources. Cold water oily fish and fish oil supplements are the main dietary sources of omega-3 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) essential fatty acids. For decades, science has shown that the omega-3’s found in fish oils have numerous positive health benefits.

In addition to favorable cardiovascular protective effects, mounting scientific evidence shows that a diet rich in omega-3’s supports healthy brain function, promotes healthy eyes and vision, supports a healthy immune response and protects nerve and brain cells from oxidative stress and damage. Omega-3’s also promote healthy triglyceride levels, support joint mobility and flexibility, support digestive and gastrointestinal health, promote the metabolism of dietary fat and cholesterol and encourage a healthy inflammatory response. Whew! If you are not eating fish several times each week or taking fish oil supplements, the question is why not?

If the answer is simply that you follow a vegetarian diet or that you really don’t care for fish, be sure that you include plant-sourced alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) omega-3 in your daily meals. ALA can be found in palm, flaxseed, coconut and olive oils, in raw nuts such as cashews, pecans and walnuts, some seeds like chia and flaxseed and in some green vegetables such as kale, spinach and Brussels sprouts. Other dietary options include omega-3 enriched foods, including eggs and fortified dairy foods. As ALA is actually a precursor to EPA and DHA, a vegetarian’s challenge is the reliance on favorable circumstances for bodily processes to convert dietary ALA to the biologically active forms of EPA and DHA. Unfortunately, this conversion is often inefficient and may be negatively affected by age, genetics, health status and poorly designed diets.

Although conversion can be slow or incomplete, sufficient ALA intake may be enough to supply adequate levels to avoid deficiency but may not be enough for optimal health. Evidence shows that vegetarians’ blood and tissue levels of EPA and DHA are about one half that of non-vegetarians. Our body’s abilities to make EPA and DHA from ALA partly depends on the other types of fats we eat. High consumption of omega-6 fats, found in corn, safflower and other blended vegetables oils, can interfere with ALA conversion. Getting enough DHA is particularly troublesome, as possibly excessive amounts of ALA are required to produce more optimal DHA levels.

Ideally, we need a ratio of about 3:1 omega-6 fats to omega-3 fats. Our modern diet is skewed heavily in the direction of omega-6, which is pro-inflammatory and aids blood clotting, and seriously lacking in omega-3, which is anti-inflammatory and an anti-coagulant. Many of us, especially vegans and vegetarians, need to take a closer look at our diets to ensure not only a more balanced ratio, but that we are getting the omega-3’s we require for good health. Adding more plant based omega-3 fatty acids to our diets is a good idea for all us, as these foods also contain vitamins, minerals, fiber and phytonutrients. The amount of omega-3’s contained in fish is closely related to what the fish eat. Fish that eat algae and sea plants that are rich in omega-3’s contain the highest amounts of omega-3’s. Supplementing is a way for those who don’t eat fish to ensure they are getting optimal amounts of these healthy essential fats.

Because there are limited options for vegans and vegetarians to ensure sufficient amounts of DHA through diet, supplementing can reduce the risk of dietary deficiency and provide the numerous health benefits of omega-3’s, especially for those over 60 years of age. Minimizing oils high in omega-6 and cutting back on fried foods will also aid ALA conversion to EPA and DHA. In order to convert ALA, the body needs other nutrients including vitamins B3, B6 and C and the minerals zinc and magnesium. In addition to providing an excellent source of soluble and insoluble fibers, flax seeds is the richest source of ALA for everyone and especially suitable for vegetarians.

Professional Supplement Center offers these and other high quality omega-3 and multi-nutrient supplements for vegans and vegetarians:

Vegan Omega-3 DHA-EPA 300 mg

Vegan Omega-3 DHA-EPA 300 mg by Deva Nutrition – This 100% vegan product contains high potency omega-3’s derived from microalgae grown in a controlled environment in an FDA inspected facility. Free of gluten, dairy or animal products.

 

Flax Seed Oil Capsules Organic Cold Pressed
Organic Cold Pressed Flax Seed Oil by Ortho Molecular – Two softgels provide 2,000 mg of organic flax seed oil, known to have the highest amount of omega-3 ALA and LA essential fatty acids. Gluten and soy free.

 

Vegan 1-a-Day MultivitaminVegan 1-a-Day Multivitamin by Deva Nutrition – This formula, enriched with whole green foods, vegetable powders and special herbs, provides high potency, balanced multiple vitamins and minerals especially formulated to meet the unique nutritional needs of vegans and vegetarians. Free of wheat, gluten, dairy and animal products. 100% Certified Vegan.

MediPro Vegan All in One Shake - Chai (SP678)MediPro Vegan All-in-One Shake by Thorne Research – Ideal for vegans, vegetarians and dairy-sensitive individuals, this non-whey, vegetable based, multi-nutrient protein powder provides 27 grams of protein per serving. This formula contains a proprietary blends of pea, potato and chlorella proteins, fibers, fruits, vegetables, digestive enzymes and probiotics. Gluten and dairy free, Non-GMO vegan/vegetarian formula.

 

References:
Vegetarian’s Challenge – Optimizing Essential Fatty Acid Status. http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/020810p22.shtml
Omega-3 Fatty Acid Recommendations for Vegetarians. http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/omega3
Plant Sources of Omega 3s. http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/heart/prevention/nutrition/food-choices/plant-sources-of-omega-3s