Lauren's Vegan Keep Fit Vits

Go beyond the protein powders, multivitamins and creatine you’ve already been told about!

Our nutritional advisor Lauren has put together a list of ‘keep fit vits’, that she recommends to anyone looking to up their game.

VITAMIN D3

As we don't get much Sun in Manchester and the UK in general, there is a lot of evidence for Vitamin D3 supplements, particularly in the Autumn/Winter months. It aids the absorption of calcium which, as well as helping to maintain health teeth and bones, helps to regulate muscle contractions, including heartbeat!

When choosing a supplement or enriched food, be aware that some types of vitamin D are not vegan-friendly. Vitamin D3 can be derived from an animal source such as sheep's wool, so make sure to read the label. We always mark our vegan friendly products as such on our online shop, but you can always ask myself or one of our team on the shop floor, in Manchester.

According to the NHS, in the UK, cows' milk is generally not a good source of vitamin D because it is not fortified, as it is in some other countries. But we’re strong advocates of plant based anyway, with loads of soya milks, oat milks, hemp milks and even pea milk being a great and easy addition to your diet for Vitamin D.

At On The Eighth Day, we’ve got  Vitamin D supplements that come in all shapes and sizes, including tablets, sprays, ones for kids and loads of vegan friendly Vitamin D enriched fortified food.

TURMERIC & CURCUMIN

Turmeric is a natural and underrated addition to your diet. Turmeric and especially its most active compound curcumin is a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.

A staff fave is turmeric tea or ‘golden milk’, that uses a small amount of ground turmeric and latte style milk with black pepper to help absorption, and a dash of coconut nectar or syrup to sweeten. It’s fantastic on cold days, and great iced in the summer.

But if you haven’t got access to milk foaming facilities or simply don’t like the taste, you can take it as a supplement to get the benefits.

VITAMIN B6

Everyone knows about the importance of vitamin B12 in your diet, but vitamin B6 is really important too. 

Vitamin B6 helps the body to use and store energy from protein and carbs. It can be found in these plant based foods:

• peanuts
• soya beans
• wheatgerm
• oats
• bananas
• some fortified breakfast cereals
  
  Our vegan friendly Vitamin B6 can be added to your diet.
  
  

CALCIUM

Taken as a supplement or found in fortified food, it's easy to boost your calcium intake if you're not getting enough through your diet, and really important too!

Calcium is one of those under appreciated workhorses of the body. It helps to stabilise blood pressure, promotes blood clotting, maintains brain function, promotes insulin sensitivity, and even helps your muscles contract. Oh and it helps keep your bones and teeth strong too.

Remember to talk to your Doctor before taking any supplements or undertaking exercise.