Top 5 Supplements I Use As A Vegan Athlete

“Top 5 Supplements I Use As A Vegan Athlete – Best Vegan Vitamins” – Monica May

Being a vegan into fitness for almost 2 years now, has changed a lot to my everyday habits.

One of those changed habits are the supplements I use on a daily basis.

Turns out, not all supplements are vegan.

Some vitamins are animal-derived, and others contain animal products such as gelatin (which comes from animal skin and bones).

However, I found a vegan brand I actually love, and today I’m sharing it with you!

Let’s get started right away!

LUNAKAI

LUNAKAI is a brand that has a variety of high quality, naturally sourced, and delicious gummy supplements.

Their vitamins are:

Vegan
Made with natural flavors
Non GMO
Soy Free
Preservatives Free
Lactose Free
Naturally Sweetened
NO corn syrup or other toxic sweeteners

I love LUNAKAI.

Their vitamins and supplements are clean and they are delivering vital health benefits, while coming at an affordable price!

And at the same time they are in the form of gummies, which is great for anyone that has a hard time swallowing a handful of pills.

Supplements I Use As A Vegan Athlete

1. Vitamin B12

The first vitamin everyone is talking about when they hear the word vegan, is vitamin B12.

However, is good to know that B12 is not just a vegan issue.

In fact, even meat-eaters don’t take B12 directly, and here’s why.

B12 is produced by bacteria found in soil as well as in the guts of animals and humans.
This means that both humans and animals get vitamin B12 from the soil directly, or secondary through animals eating soil and us eating them.

However, due to declining soil quality from intensive over-farming making the soil deficient in cobalt, and because our vegetables are super-washed, neither us nor the animals can get it from the soil anymore.

Most factory-farmed animals are kept indoors and never even see soil during their lifetimes, so would certainly be deficient without supplementation.

Which means, meat-eaters usually will get B12 secondary, from the supplement the animal got.

So, yes, the first supplement I started using was B12, and to this day it is still my best friend :)

Vitamin B12 helps fight fatigue, supports the normal functioning of the nervous system, contributes to normal red blood cell formation, and even helps to produce DNA.

2. Vitamin D

Next vitamin I use, and have been using way before I started eating plant based is Vitamin D.

We all need 10mcg of vitamin D a day to function.

Between April and September around 15-20 minutes of direct sunlight can provide us with enough vitamin D, but this will vary according to skin type.

The main source for Vitamin D is direct sunlight, since it’s hard to get enough vitamin D from our diet in general, so supplementation is essential for almost all of us.

Vitamin D helps maintain bone health and supports muscle function as well as your daily immunity.

Studies have shown that proper vitamin D levels in the body are associated with muscle strength and performance.

3. Vitamin E

I’ve always had problems with my skin.

It’s just always too dry and prone to flaking.

And one of those vitamins that promotes healthy skin is Vitamin E.

Vitamin E is a nutrient that’s important to vision, reproduction, and the health of your blood, brain and skin.

4. Vitamin C

Another vitamin I use together with the vitamin E, is vitamin C.

The human body needs vitamin C to fight infection and diseases.

This essential nutrient strengthens the immune system and helps protect against chronic illness.

Vitamin C is needed for a healthy heart, bones, teeth, and gums.

Furthermore, it supports tissue growth and repair, leading to faster recovery from exercise.

Also, Vitamin C helps with other micronutrient absorption, especially iron.

I tend to get iron deficient during “that time of the month”, so my strategy is boosting the iron levels through vitamin C supplementation.

And it’s been working for me so far!

5. Probiotic

Being a healthy food advocate, bloating wasn’t something new for me.

I was eating healthy foods for years, lots of veggies, beans and peas, and I was dealing with bloating way before going plant-based.

However, I can say that the first month of eating plant-based was a bloating nightmare for me.

What helped me a lot, and it still helps me is taking probiotics.

And probiotics in general are essential if you’re eating a lot of fibers and gassy foods.

Also, they have an important role helping with protein absorption and aiding digestion.

*BONUS: Low Dose Melatonin

I sometimes workout pretty late, on busy days even before going to bed.

So, I’ve found that even though I am super tired, I just cannot seem to fall asleep.

And something that has helped me a lot on nights like this, is Low Dose Melatonin.

Melatonin is naturally produced by the body to help manage sleep cycles.

It may assist you in falling asleep faster and sleep more soundly.

Also, if I have scheduled a hard training early in the morning, this supplement will help me fall asleep faster and wake up feeling revitalized and refreshed.