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Thread: Do vegans need supplements? Do you take any? Which do you take?

  1. #1

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    Default Do vegans need supplements? Do you take any? Which do you take?

    Hey peeps

    I was just wondering, when you're vegan is it best to take multivitamins or B12 supplements or nothing? How many of you take them? Don't most tablets have like gelatin or animal stuff in the tablets?

    I live in Australia so its pretty hard to find stuff...

    Thanks

  2. #2
    Veganmama
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    Hi

    I'm an Aussie too and we drink the fresh vitasoy milk and that has a b12 supplement, i never use to worry but now i'm breastfeeding two babies i like to make sure they get enough through my milk. The longlife Vitasoy doesn't have the supplements in them

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    I take 100 mcg of B12 EVERY DAY. There are dozens of vegan B12 supplements out there.

    See here http://www.vnv.org.au/Vit&Min.htm for more info on vegan supplements available in Australia.

  4. #4
    ConsciousCuisine
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    I make use of fermented foods like cultured veggies, tempeh and miso and also nutritional yeast and sea vegetables. My daughter drinks fortified vegan milks and cereals.

  5. #5
    baffled harpy's Avatar
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    I take them sometimes (when I remember) as well as consuming fortified foods such as soy milk and yeast extract. I thought I was getting enough from the fortified foods but having read Stephen Walsh's discussions about homocysteine I'm not so sure. http://www.vegansociety.com/phpws/mo...104&page_id=29

    I think you should easily be able to get vegan ones in a health food shop, and they're cheap as these things go (in the UK at least). The chewable/sub-lingual ones are supposed to be the best.

  6. #6
    cedartree cedarblue's Avatar
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    i take a vit b complex every other day which has 1.0ug in it amongst the other b vits.

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    AR Activist Roxy's Avatar
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    I noticed that I had been quite moody lately - especially around PMS time. It was suggested to me that I try a B-Complex formula to help.

    Each day I take one of those in vegecap form.

  8. #8

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    I don't worry about it much, but I do have 1mg tablets that I take every once and a while. Here in the US vegan B12 is very common. I'm surprised it's hard to find there. You can order it online you know. I think it'll cost you about $10 a year for basic B12 cobalamin pills because you can actually break them into quarters and take them once a day or so...

  9. #9

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    Default Avoiding supplements with special worry for b12

    Vitamin b12 yeast spreads (I buy Meridian's) are they reliable source of B12 and are they the right form of b12 that the body can use as I am trying to avoid taking supplements anymore.

    For calcium I eat tahini and almonds in abundance

    For Iron i eat spinach and watercress in abundance

    For Zinc (and I think I need to pay more attention to this one) I eat brazil nuts about once a week

    For Essential fats I eat linseeds, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds ad avocadoes

    For antioxidants I eat sweet potato, red peppers, broccoli, peas, kiwis, watercress and organic carrots every week

    For vitamin C I eat eaps of fruti and veg

    For vitamin D i go in the sun 15 minutes a day

    For vitamins B I eat nuts, seeds and mushrooms

    For protein I eat tofu, nuts, seeds, beans, lentil, rice, quinoa and some processed soy meals

    For fibre fruti and veg

    My biggest fault is not enough carbs I think.

  10. #10
    ConsciousCuisine
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    How old are you? How tall? How much do you weigh? All of these things need to be known before anyone can tell you what an adequate intake of nutrients would be.

    (Pumpkin seeds are high in zinc , by the way. Very good for men)

  11. #11

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    Quote Fruitbat
    Vitamin b12 yeast spreads (I buy Meridian's) are they reliable source of B12 and are they the right form of b12 that the body can use as I am trying to avoid taking supplements anymore.

    Gabriel Cousens writes here (http://www.treeoflife.nu/ewb12.html) that "I don't really recommend nutritional red star yeast, because of the fungal potential". I guess that goes for Meridians yeast spreads as well.

  12. #12
    ConsciousCuisine
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    I enjoy Dr. Schulze's "Superfood" which has a non-active yeast in it. There is no fungal risk and it is a whole foods supplement that is AMAZING.

  13. #13

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    Quote Fruitbat
    My biggest fault is not enough carbs I think.
    I wouldn't worry. Carbs are everywhere!
    The most dangerous of all falsehoods is a slightly distorted truth." G. C. Lichtenberg

  14. #14

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    Quote After The Rain
    I wouldn't worry. Carbs are everywhere!
    yeah but not enough complex slow-releasing carbs like rice and quinoa and pulses and stuff like that. with all the sport i do i need loads and i am sure i amnot getting enough

  15. #15

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    Default supplementation

    Do you take supplements? What do you take?

  16. #16

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    B12, daily. D2, daily, but only in winter.

  17. #17
    gorillagorilla Gorilla's Avatar
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    i eat fortified foods, and take an iron and B12 supplement every day. i know i could easily get enough iron from vegan food, but find it hard to make sure i get adequate supply as i don't like green vegetables much, so take a supplement just to make sure.

    i've also been taking omega oil capsules daily, but i'm going to use hemp seed oil when i run out of the capsules as it's better i think.

  18. #18

    Default somestimes

    once in a while when i am unusually tired i take a multi vitamin, B12, and vitaminE. it seems to help with energy after a few days (at which point i invariably forget to keep taking them

  19. #19
    gertvegan's Avatar
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    Vega b12

  20. #20
    AR Activist Roxy's Avatar
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    B-Complex in vege-caps.

  21. #21

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    every day.
    multivits & iron supplements.

  22. #22
    gorillagorilla Gorilla's Avatar
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    Yesterday in the Daily Mail (UK newspaper) was an article about vitamins that sounded like a scare story, on the front page it said "Are you taking too many vitamins?" and the headline of the article was "VITAMIN OVERLOAD". But the article was actually quite sensible, looking at whether Denmark were right to ban fortified breakfast cereal, and stated that it's actually quite hard to overdose on most common vitamins/minerals, unless you take a supplement and eat loads of fortified and naturally rich foods as well - e.g. to overdose on vitamin B6, you'd need to drink 25 litres of Sunny D (boooo!) every day.

    hopefully the EU won't change the regulations for supplements, as currently they don't need to be tested on animals before going on sale in this country, and can provide a natural remedy for some conditions (such as depression, PMS etc.)

  23. #23

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    EU is seeking ways to ban/limit selling many supplements. Damn fascists want to tell us what we should and what we shouldn't eat. These idiots don't mind ciggarettes being legal, but they want to ban vitamins and minerals. This is a joke. I envy Americans their consumer freedom.

    http://www.alliance-natural-health.org/

  24. #24

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    But do you envy American's GM foods, hormone and pestcide and herbicide excessive spraying and commercial policies? EU does alot of things the way I prefer them done!

  25. #25
    Vegan Esquire
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    I take a multi vitamin, a calcium supplement, and glucosamine. I get them from www.veganessentials.com They are pretty reasonably priced, and the people who work there are so nice.

  26. #26
    gorillagorilla Gorilla's Avatar
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    oh yeah i make my own soya milk and add a liquid calcium+magnesium supplement to it, so i guess that counts too (forgot about that!)
    'The word gorilla was derived from the Greek word Gorillai (a "tribe of hairy women")'

  27. #27
    beforewisdom
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    Quote Fruitbat
    But do you envy American's GM foods, hormone and pestcide and herbicide excessive spraying and commercial policies? EU does alot of things the way I prefer them done!
    That is an excellent point.

    I would further add that many supplements may also become illegal in the US. The pharmaceutcial industry has been lobbying the goverment to ban many supplements that could possibly compete with drugs/drug industry profits.

    I envy the stance Europe has taken on GM foods.

  28. #28

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    I take a veg multi. It's more like insurance than extreme necessity. I'm always running around so I can't be sure I'm getting all the appropriate vitamins & minerals in everyday w/out it.

  29. #29
    beforewisdom
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    B-12
    D2
    Calcium

  30. #30
    ConsciousCuisine
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    Jarrow Methyl B-12
    Calcium
    Dr. Schultze's Superfood to which I add 1 T. Udo's Choice Oil (a perfect EFA blend), garlic, lemon juice, alfalfa leaf powder and water

    Other supplements as needed to *never* become ill., such as L-lysine, echinacea, traditional Chinese Medicinal Herbs, astragalus, maca, eulethero and more herbs...

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    Daily B12, mixed calcium and vitamin D, Iron (coz I am anaemic) and I am going to start having flaxseed oil. I also drink calcium fortified OJ, have calcium (and sometimes B12) rice milk (that is rice dream enriched which is not easy to get and expensive in Australia) and the soygurt that I sometimes eat also has calcium (I worry about my bones!)

  32. #32
    baffled harpy's Avatar
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    I have a tsp of flax oil on my morning toast and I take sublingual vitamin B12 tablets when I remember - usually a couple of tablets once a week though a small bit daily would probably be better. I take iron tablets occasionally if I'm feeling feeble because I do have a tendency to be anaemic (nothing to do with being veg*n, everything to do with being female )

    I used to take Udo's Oil but I read, can't remember where, that it is better for vegans just to take flax oil, because we usually get plenty of omega 6 in our diet though not enough omega 3. Also I think excess omega 6 was said to interfere with the body's processing of the omega 3 (or something). There is some discussion of the question here: http://www.veganhealth.org/shv/

  33. #33
    ConsciousCuisine
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    Harpy, I had a concern about that very thing. When I met with Dr. Udo, I expressed my concerns to him and outlined my familys' diet, telling him I have an 11 year-old growing girl to raise and asking which ils would be the best ones for her. He suggested a few supplements (not his brand by the way) and then his "Udos Choice" oil because we don't eat many of the other Omega 3/6 foods except for flax seeds and oils.

    I am glad you posted the link; I haven't been to this site for a while and it's good to revisit such info. Blessings!

    (Taken from the link posted)

    "Limit n-6 Fats

    Limiting n-6 intake is important for maximizing the conversion of n-3s into EPA and DHA. You should aim for an n-6 to n-3 ratio of 4:1 or less. The following sources of n-3s are followed by their approximate ratio of n-6 to n-3:

    n-3 source approx. n-6:n-3 ratio
    flaxseeds/flaxseed oil 1:4
    canola oil 2:1
    english walnuts 4:1 - 5:1
    walnut oil 5:1
    soybean oil 7.5:1
    black walnuts 10:1

    Only the top 2 foods (flaxseeds and canola oil) fall below the recommended ratio of n-6:n-3. This means that other foods will not decrease the ratio to 4:1, though walnuts will not harm the ratio much and do provide omega-3s.

    While flaxseed oil goes a long way in correcting the imbalance in a typical vegan diet, you should only take the recommended amounts. If you prefer oils on foods such as bread, I recommend raw olive or raw canola oil to minimize your n-6:n-3 ratio as well as for other benefits."

  34. #34

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    I eat lots of nuts and seeds including flaxseeds - I hope I am not imbalanced... now I am worried.


    I must increase Iodine and Iron in my diet. For iodine I am going to buy seaweed for my salads - any suggestions for iron???

  35. #35
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    Nuts, seeds, pulses, grains, dried fruit, sea vegetables, parsley, green leafy vegetables, molasses, and miso all contain iron.

  36. #36
    baffled harpy's Avatar
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    A glass of orange juice with a tsp (or more if you can stomach it) of blackstrap molasses stirred in is meant to be a good vegan "iron tonic". The vitamin C in the orange juice helps uptake of the iron.

    Apart from trying to include foods such as gertvegan mentioned I also cook in a cast iron pot sometimes - this is meant to help too.

  37. #37
    I eve's Avatar
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    Daily multivitamin + B12 tab. And a tablespoon of flax seed oil, is that a supplement?
    Eve

  38. #38
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    Quote harpy
    A glass of orange juice with a tsp (or more if you can stomach it) of blackstrap molasses stirred in is meant to be a good vegan "iron tonic". The vitamin C in the orange juice helps uptake of the iron.

    Apart from trying to include foods such as gertvegan mentioned I also cook in a cast iron pot sometimes - this is meant to help too.
    Hmm never thought of doing it that way. I tried molasses on its own and couldn't stand it!

  39. #39
    Kevster
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    You can make some really good cakes with molasses......

  40. #40
    Goddess foxytina_69's Avatar
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    do we need to take supplements? i havnt bin taking any :S
    "you dont have to be tall to see the moon" - african proverb

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    foxy, i hope you are taking a b12 supplement.

  42. #42
    Goddess foxytina_69's Avatar
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    im not but i drink alot of soymilk with b12.
    "you dont have to be tall to see the moon" - african proverb

  43. #43
    I eve's Avatar
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    This 'Independent' article states that vitamins may increase the death rate of users: http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/hea...p?story=567650
    Eve

  44. #44
    wuggy
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    I take a multi-vitamin, and Flaxseed, but I'm never quite sure if I am doing the right or wrong thing.
    Tried Spirulina but wasn't impressed.

  45. #45

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    I didn't vote right. I take B-12, but I don't take it daily. I take it three times a week. B-12 is the only supplement I take, though...

  46. #46
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    I take a multi vitamin, Vitamin C, Glucosamine and B12. I also take Udo's choice in my morning yoghurt, but will take your advice and get flaxseed oil next time I shop.

  47. #47
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    My b/f and I don't take any supplements, but we do drink soy milk fortified with B12, Calcium, Folate, Iron and Omega 3....

  48. #48
    cedartree cedarblue's Avatar
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    what exactly is the benefit of glucosamine??

  49. #49

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    I stopped taking vitamins recently, as I feel informed enough to get all of my nutrients from food (including oat milk or rice milk for B12 and D2).

  50. #50
    I eve's Avatar
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    This article about vitamin E, in today's BBC on-line news, is rather disturbing. I don't take vitamin E tablets, but the final sentence states: "Vitamin E is found in nuts, seeds, green leafy vegetables and vegetable oils". Now I wonder if the article includes nuts etc, or whether it is only regarding supplements? The article is at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3998847.stm
    Eve

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