Dr. Nicole Avena is the driving force behind a new wave of academic interest in the connections between medicine and nutrition.
When going vegan, the first thing you’ll want to consider is that there may be many foods you won’t be eating anymore, and without properly filling that gap, there may also be some essential nutrients you’ll be missing out on. Let’s take a look at some of the major nutrients you’ll need to be more aware of as you go vegan.
Protein: many people are surprised to hear that most foods have at least a little bit of protein, and many plant-based foods have a lot of protein! For example, just a whole wheat English muffin combined with 2 tablespoons of peanut butter can provide around 16 g of protein.
Iron: similar to protein, many plant foods contain plenty of iron. The only difference is it’s actually easier for our bodies to extract iron from animal foods than the iron stored in plants. Plants contain molecules such as phytates and oxalates that can get in the way of our bodies absorbing nutrients like iron. This is why it’s important to eat a variety of high-iron plant foods and supplements like the Vegums iron gummy vitamin can come in handy.
Vitamin B12: vitamin B12 is one of few nutrients that are hard to come by naturally in a plant-based diet (the best and only sources are from animals). Fortunately, it’s easy to find vitamin B12 in fortified foods and supplements designed for vegans.
Calcium: although some of the best sources of calcium are from animals, sufficient intake can be achieved through a balanced vegan diet. However, eating a balanced diet full of nutrient-dense foods isn’t always easy no matter what your diet allows.V
That’s why I love Vegums, they have you covered! Because having perfectly balanced and nutrient-dense diet isn’t always realistic. Getting all the nutrients you need in the right amounts from Vegums will help prevent deficiencies, give you energy, and assist in growth and development all around (such as maintaining strong bones!).
By Dr. Nicole Avena