Boosting Your Vegan Diet

Citing numerous health, fitness, and other reasons, more and more people are going vegan these days. While this type of diet carries considerable health benefits — and the stigma is gone — it also requires serious planning and, often, supplementation.

Vegan: The Pros and Cons

Those on vegan diets avoid all animals and animal byproducts — meat, fish, fowl, dairy, eggs, honey, etc. — and generally consume more legumes, fruits, vegetables, fiber, and vitamin C than people who eat both plants and animals. This can lead to numerous health benefits. Vegans are typically thinner and have lower cholesterol and blood pressure than those on (even) vegetarian and other diets, and their increased intake of antioxidants and phytochemicals contributes to their reduced risk of both heart disease and various types of cancer.

While the vegan diet was once labelled as a little extreme or impractical, it has now become increasingly mainstream and praised. Despite its growing popularity and considerable health benefits, however, the vegan diet also requires careful planning.

According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vegans run the risk of micronutrient deficiencies. Those on vegan diets need to monitor closely their intake of vitamins B-12 and D, as well as calcium and omega-3 fatty acids. They may also have trouble maintaining sufficient iron and zinc levels. While it is possible to get these nutrients from non-animal sources, it can be quite a challenge. It comes as no surprise, then, that supplements often play a major role in helping vegans maintain optimum health.

Supplementation Sources

Getting the nutrients you need to supplement your vegan diet doesn't have to be a challenge. Fortunately, there are a wide variety of options available. Vegan-friendly offerings include:

• Meal replacement shakes
• Flours
• Organic ancient grain bars
• Cookies and Crackers
• Beverages
• Vitamins and minerals

Whether you’ve been living a vegan lifestyle for awhile or are just beginning to explore cleaner eating, we offer an extensive selection of vegan items to bring variety to your diet

Check an amazing gluten-free and vegan pasta, Shirataki Noodles.