When you decide to go vegan there are two things that will happen. You may have some small concerns about getting all of the necessary vitamins and nutrition. But you will have studied so you know you will be ok. On the other hand, your friends and family will be convinced you will be lacking in many important nutrients. Vitamin D is one of them.
Vitamin D, in small amounts, is important for the growth of bones and other physiological development of the body. It is also important in the reduction of inflammation and aids in proper neuro-muscular and immune functions.
image courtesy of nutritionfacts.org
There are several vegan sources of Vitamin D which is not limited to meat and poultry consumption. Get my 5 favorite vegan sources of Vitamin D below.
The best source of Vitamin D is the sun. The glorious star of our solar system. However, these days, staying too long underneath the sun can cause sunburns and other skin-related disorders such as skin cancer. Even so, there is a trick on how to get the optimal amount of Vitamin D without feeling too hot or fear of getting sunburns. This was taught to us by our Health Psychology instructor. First of all, do this before 10 AM with a nearby shade. Stay under the sun for about 5 to 10 minutes then move to the shade and stay for the same amount time. Do this for the next half-hour or so. Aside from getting your Vitamin D, you also feel refreshed and invigorated. The next page will tackle on the second source and will talk about Vitamin D source if you are from a area with less sunlight or during winter months.
Not all countries have the same amount of sunlight. There are those that have easy access to the sun such as those by the equator and the opposite for those near the northern and southern poles. To achieve the needed Vitamin D, there are food supplements available in the market. Most of the time, according to several sources, naturally occurring Vitamin D is hard to get-by that’s why most food products are fortified with Vitamin D. The (Unsweetened) Hemp Milk is a good source of Vitamin D. It is fortified with Vitamin D2 which is known as the vegan alternative of Vitamin D. It also has other vitamins incorporated into the milk such as Vitamin A and B12.
The next to the list of Vitamin D sources for vegans is the Original Unsweetened Almond Original. The Original Unsweetened Almond Original is a drink that can be consumed as is or be integrated to other recipes. So, instead of using dairy milk, it can be substituted with this and to top it off, it also has other vitamins such as Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Vitamin A and Vitamin B12.
Get the final two excellent vegan sources of vitamin D by clicking through to the next page below.
The Organic Soy Milk is another choice for vitamin D source for vegans. From the name alone, the soy milk is made from organic soybeans. Aside from the Vitamin D, the drink is formulated and fortified with other vitamins and minerals. To name a few, it has Vitamins A, C & E and also has Phosphorus and Magnesium. All in all, it is one of the good sources of Vitamin D.
The previous mentions primarily talked about fortified Vitamin D vegan milk products. For the remaining two sources of Vitamin D, it will be vitamin supplements which are vegan certified. Such example is the Deva Vitamin D supplement. According to the website, their product is completely free from any animal products and animal testing. It has also been certified by the Vegan Society, which is a nonprofit organization.
According to some research, to be on the safe side, the daily IU of Vitamin D should be less than 1,000. Among the company’s that offer this IU range is Freeda Vitamins. Freeda Vitamins offer several supplements for Vitamin D. Among its offers is the Vitamin D2 with 400 IU, which is a relatively safe intake of Vitamin D for anyone. The supplement has been approved by the SCD which further strengthens its safety.
