So, I’m pretty sure that, being vegan, I don’t get enough of pretty much any vitamins. I’m really starting to face the consequences to.But there are sooooooooo many vitamins out there…I don’t know what to take!! Can someone give me a list of some vitamins I should be taking?? I need some that will:
*give me more energy…I’m ALWAYS tired
*help improve my complexion/hair…my hair’s always either really greasy of really dry…and the same with my face
*maybe help me lose weight. i’m about 30 pounds overweight…and was wondering if there are any vitamins that improve/increase weight loss
*any other vitamins that vegans need to survive??
thanks in advance. also, if you could include brand names or where to buy them/about how much they cost, that would be quite helpful. y’all are loved!
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6 Responses to “What Vitamins Should I Be Taking?”
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November 16th, 2009 at 12:49 am
Last year there was an article in “Vegetarian Times” about the need for EVERYONE to be taking B12, not just vegetarians/vegans because they have found that there is a marked rise in people with a deficiency. Not having enough of this vitamin can cause major nerve damage, mood swings, the shakes, just a host of problems – just best to supplement. My doctor suggested a sublingual (under the tongue to dissolve) B12 which I actually found to be cheaper at “Whole Foods” than anywhere else, that is if I bought their brand vs. a name brand.
A simple multi vitamin should cover any and all your needs. Vegetarian/vegan viatmins are not hard to find at all. You can find them at most stores in your area. If not there, then drug stores. If not there, then health food stores. If not there, there is always online. I again bought and use the ones from “Whole Foods” generic brand since they actually were cheaper. But to be honest, since finding out that I really don’t need them, haven’t been taking them at all.
BUT, if you have reason to believe that you have a problem in any area, discuss it with your doctor. Since I have regular blood tests because of medical problems, I know that I don’t have any problems in this area. But if you are unsure, you have reasons to be concerned – talk to your doctor. If it is diet related, they can help you with your diet. If that is an area that they are not good at, they can refer you to a dietician/nutritionist to help you set up a diet to meet all your needs. While in the ‘perfect’ world we would get all that we need from what we eat – fact is that there are times that we simply skip meals or eat the wrong things and very well might have or develope a problem. The people that I know that are dietticians/nutritionists help their clients with everything from shopping lists to recipes.
As to your complexion, I would suggest making sure that you are using a good quality soap, not heavy on the oils. I use “Dr. Bronner’s”, but there is a host of them out there that are great. Find the one that works best for you. Wash every morning with a good washcloth, rinse well. If you wear makeup, you may want to forgo it till you get your skin problems under control. I got mine at the local grocery store which turned out to be cheaper than online or health food store.
To lose weight, moderate and regular exercise while cutting back on calories is the best way to lose weight. By simply doing moderate exercise every day, you not only help with any weight problem you might have, you also help other parts of your body. Exercise is just plain GOOD for you.
As to your hair. A quality brush, quality shampoo and conditioner should help you with your problem. “Nature’s Gate” is one that I have suggested to others for several years now. Easy to find at most grocery stores. It also works out to be the cheaper of all the brands that I have found that are vegetarian/vegan in my area.
November 16th, 2009 at 3:33 am
You can buy a vegan multivitamin if you want, and that should take care of all your vitamin needs. If you have a good diet with lots of fruits and vegetables and whole grains and beans, you shouldn’t need any vitamin supplements except vitamin B12, and vitamin D on days when the sun isn’t strong enough to get sunburn. You could also eat foods fortified with vitamin B12 and vitamin D instead. If you need more energy, make sure you consume enough calories, protein, and iron. For your hair/skin, make sure you get enough iron and zinc. To lose weight, eat healthy foods and exercise a lot. http://www.veganessentials.com has lots of vegan vitamins, and they’re really inexpensive.
November 16th, 2009 at 4:43 am
Start with a good multi-vitamin. VitaminShoppe has good vitamins. If you don’t have a vitaminshoppe in your town, you can get them at vitaminshoppe.com… They make one for women and another for me.
A multi-vitamin is a good way to start towards losing weight.
The next way is to eat right. If you eat a varied diet of vegetables, including dark green leafy vegetables, and fruit, and sprouts, and raw nuts and seeds, and cut out prepared and packaged foods, as well as sweets and starchy foods, you should be able to peel off the pounds relatively quickly.
November 16th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Vibe Vitamins.
I know here in Canada you can only get them from online. I think it is about $50 a bottle (its liquid). I have a few friends using it and they LOVE it… I am waiting for my bottle.
I looked.. there are no animal or fish byproducts so it is completely ok for you to take.
November 16th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Your problem isn’t that you’re not taking the right vitamins. Your problem is that you THINK your problem is that you’re not taking the right vitamins.
Eat nutritious food. Exercise. Get enough sleep. That’s all there is to it.
November 16th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
You should be eating at least five different colors of fruits and veggies everyday, making sure you include dark green veggies everyday. You should eat whole grains like wheat and oatmeal. You should be eating nuts, seeds, bean and legumes. You should get good fats from coconuts, avacados, and olive oil. You should get Omega 3 from walnuts, flax and fortified foods. You should drink lots of water. If you’re not eating foods fortified with B-12 you should take B12 pills. Other then that it’s so much better for you to get vitamins from foods, not pill, and there’s no reason for the pills.
If your vegan you should know these things – please do some real research not including wikipedia or yahoo answers.
Your complexion and hair, and possibly weight, sound like too much junk food or fast food. There is no magic pill to take off weight – exercise and improve your diet.