Can anyone recommend a vegan supplement?

[shyviolet22]

I am worried about not getting enough B12, Vitamin D, and Iron.

Also, I've read that cholesterol is necessary and if you don't get enough, your body will produce excess cholesterol to compensate.
I have a hard time believing that but I want to make sure it's not true.
Anyone know anything about that?

[Mr. Sun]

Normally it's not too difficult to find vegan supplements. If you ask at a good health food store you should get some good advice. If you're unsure you can ask for contact info for the recommended companies and ask them directly if their supplements are vegan.

Info on cholesterol:


Cholesterol

What Is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is not the same as fat. If you had a bit of cholesterol on the end of your finger, it would look like wax. The liver manufactures cholesterol and sends it out to be used in the manufacture of hormones and cell membranes, and in other parts of the body. Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dl) of blood serum. Based on the results of the Framingham Heart Study and other research, the ideal level appears to be below 150 mg/dl. At that point, coronary artery disease is very unlikely.

Unfortunately, nearly 107 million Americans have cholesterol levels over 200,1 with the average level for coronary artery disease victims being 225.3 Surprisingly, the federal government’s recommended maximum cholesterol level is still as high as 200.

http://www.pcrm.org/health/prevmed/chol_heartdisease.html

There's a lot more info on that page. :)

[Mr. Sun]

As far as iron goes, this is interesting:


Vitamin C aids in iron absorption (the iron and vitamin C must be eaten at the same meal). In one study, vegetarian children with iron deficiency anemia in India (who probably did not have high vitamin C intakes) were given 100 mg of vitamin C at both lunch and dinner for 60 days. They saw a drastic improvement in their anemia, with most making a full recovery.2 Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits, strawberries, green leafy vegetables (broccoli, kale, collards, swiss chard, brussel sprouts), bell peppers (yellow, red, and green), and cauliflower.

http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/iron

[chryssiie718]

We take VegLife (100% vegan) Vegan One Multiple vitamins & minerals which we buy at the health food store.

[greensgood]

can be avoided with the consumption of a balanced diet.
Iron levels are very ez for vegans to meet with spinach, kale, and other leafy greens we are supposed to be eating everyday
Vitamin D is free and fun! Go play outside for at least ten minutes a day and Vit. D is taken care of.
B12 is a bit different b/c it is still common among nutritionists that sea veggies are not sufficient source of B12 eventhough a form of it appears during analysis....However, if you use soy milk it is fortified with B12 and no need to supplement.

as for cholesterol. Yes our body produces most of its cholesterol in the liver, spinal chord and brain, and intestines (and other places). LDL is "bad" , HDL is "good", if concerned with your own levels go to doc and get these numbers to know where you stand. Cholesterol is high in animal based food sources, however cholesterol can still be consumed from plant based sources.
Phytosterol naturally occurs in plants and act the same as cholesterol in the cell membranes. Soy bean oil, corn oil and other veg. oils have phytoserols as well as many margarines or non-dairy spreads.

[shyviolet22]

thanks for the advice! i'm gonna go to my health food store tonight to look for that vegan one stuff (or something similar). and i'll be sure to eat those leafy greens on a daily basis, too :angel:.

[cftwo]

I like Deva one-a-day Vegan multivitamin, which I get from Veganessentials.com.

[Ilurvebroccoli]

I think your set. I wouldn't reccomend taking too many supplements, because even if, say, the supplement has 100% of you Daily needs of B12, your body can only take a certain amount from a supplement, so you need to try and get those nutrients from food also. The foods people already suggested are good. JUst don't overdo it on the supplements, because you will end up wasting your money on it, if your body doesn't even absorb all the nutrients from the supplement.

[Bells]

If you have a Sam's near you, I know Member's Mark Calcium Magnesium Zinc vitamin and their vitamin B complex are vegan.

[Nietzsche721]

I also just heard that coffee and tea block the absorption of iron and B12 - whether you're getting it from food or supplements.

So if you're taking a vitamin to get these, don't do it with your morning meal if you have coffee or tea! I keep my vitamins at work and take them after lunch with water. I find I flush out A LOT less afterwards.

Also, Vitamin Store now sells fully biological (plant) based supplements that are great.

[theskyexplodes]

I take the teen vitamin from GNC. it has B12, D & Iron. I'm not sure if the women's suppliment has slightly different amounts of those 3. I stocked up on the teen one last year so I'm sticking with it for now :)