The vegan diet, while naturally rich in a wide range of nutrients including phytonutrients, fibre and some vitamins and minerals, does need to be carefully planned to ensure adequate intake of the following nutrients:

• Vitamin B12, essential for nerve health is really only found in animal foods.
• While the precursor to Vitamin A, Beta-Carotene is found in yellow/orange vegetables, conversion can be poor so some vegans may benefit from supplementation with Vitamin A.
• Vegans and non-vegans alike are often low in Vitamin D, particularly over the winter months when we cannot synthesise it from sunshine.
• Whilst sources of Iron are plentiful in a vegan diet, the bioavailability of non-haem iron from plant sources is lower than in iron from red meat, so some vegans may wish to supplement, in particular young girls and women through their menstrual years.
• Vegan Omega 3 provides the essential fatty acids EPA and DHA from algae that can otherwise only be found in oily fish.
• Other minerals are often deficient in those following a vegan diet, including calcium, iodine and zinc, so one of our multivitamins may be useful to ensure optimal nutrient intake.