11 Best Vegan Supplements in the UK – Some Plastic Free

I know vegan supplements aren’t always necessary for a healthy diet. However there are some vitamins etc that may be missing in a vegan diet so I wanted to list some that are best supplements for vegans and available in the UK.

Some of my recommendations for vegan supplements are also plastic free supplements as this was something I was looking for specifically over the last few years. This post includes some nutritional information and some of the best supplements for vegans.

If you’re a new vegan or plant based, you may want to check out 5 biggest mistakes new vegans make, after this blog post or my beginner’s guide to going vegan or plant based.

Please be aware that I’m not a nutritionist or a doctor so if you’re unsure or if you have specific health issues. It’s always best to consult a professional.

This post contains affiliate links which means I make a small profit if you buy through my link. I would never recommend something I didn’t believe in or wouldn’t buy myself, thank you for your support.

Which Supplements Should I Take As A Vegan

There are a few nutrients that might be missing from a vegan or plant-based diet so I’ve done a break down of the best supplements for vegans.

I’ve been vegan for 5 years now and to start with I didn’t take any vegan supplements because I wanted to find out exactly what my body needed. I made sure I was eating wholefoods, plenty of fruit and vegetables, seeds and nuts. Straight away almost, I did feel quite fatigued, so I decided to introduce B complex vitamins. I did almost immediately feel a lot better.

B12

B12 naturally comes from animal products such as meat, eggs, poultry and milk. This nutrient is generally found in the soil and it is thought that previously humans would have received this vitamin through the occasional animal product but also from eating fruit and vegetables with a bit of soil on them. These days we wash fruit and vegetables so much, generally because of the pesticides that are used on them but the result is that we aren’t getting the sufficient amount of this vitamin through a vegan diet alone.

B12 deficiency can result in anaemia so if you think you may have this issue, it’s important to supplement or see a doctor.

Many vegan products actually are fortified with B12 and iron as well which is really good.

Iron

Iron is found mainly and in higher quantities in Beef, Fish and Chicken. It can be found in green leafy vegetables, beans and pulses as well so it is still possible for the average person to get enough Iron from vegetables. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that women and children are more likely to get iron deficiency regardless of if they’re vegan or not. People who menstruate specifically do lose blood through their monthly cycle and this can make them more likely to have anaemia through Iron deficiency.

The next thing I noticed after probably a year or so of being vegan was that I had many signs which suggested I was anaemic as a result of iron deficiency. If you suspect this please do see a Doctor, however for me I started to get low blood pressure issues so dizziness when I got up too quickly and in general I was very fatigued. Regardless of how much Iron rich vegan foods I consumed, my body just didn’t absorb it very well so I added Iron to my vegan supplements.

It’s also worth noting that caffeine can effect the absorbency of Iron so ensure that you don’t drink anything caffeinated for at least 30 minutes after taking Iron supplements. Vitamin C also increases the absorbency of Iron so try taking it with a piece of fruit or fruit juice as well.

Omega 3’s

EPA and DHA are animal based sources of Omega 3’s commonly found in Fish. However, EHA is a vegan source of Omega 3’s and it’s found in Flaxseeds, Chia Seeds and Walnuts. You can also get EPA and DHA as a vegan from microalgae and seaweed products.

Omega 3 is known to help prevent heart disease, eye health, brain health among other things. I haven’t currently added this to my vegan supplements. However, I am considering it for the future.

Calcium & Vitamin D

As well as Iron and Vitamin C, Calcium & Vitamin D are important as the Calcium is activated by the Vitamin D. This is why quite often you’ll see Calcium and Vitamin D added to plant products together.

Calcium is generally found in Dairy products although vegan products such as tofu, broccoli and kale contain Calcium as well.

Vitamin D comes from the sun as most are aware, however eggs and fish do contain Vitamin D as well.

It’s been brought to my attention recently that most people need to supplement with Vitamin D, especially if you live in the UK. In the Winter for example, we don’t get enough Vitamin D from the sun.

Vitamin D deficiency is hard to spot because there isn’t usually obvious symptoms. However, you are more likely to be Vitamin D deficient if you’re elderly, have darker skin or if you wear sunscreen a lot. To learn more visit this article.

Vitamin D has been linked to the immune system and people that have low levels of Vitamin D are more likely to get ill from respiratory related infections.

I take Vitamin D daily as I live in the UK and I wear sunscreen daily regardless of the weather.

Magnesium

Magnesium is not one of the vegan supplements usually mentioned, however after I had been vegan a few years I started to notice other symptoms such as muscle spasms which would not go away. After a bit of research, I established that these symptoms were a result of magnesium deficiency.

It is thought that like B12, magnesium was something that usually we would get from the soil. However, over washing of fruit and vegetables has led to levels of this being low in some people.

Magnesium is found in fish, seeds, beans, lentils, bananas and dark chocolate.

It is said that Magnesium can help you sleep, help combat migraines, reduce symptoms of depression, and maintain a healthy heart and brain.

It’s worth noting that eating well, supplementing if you need to and exercise such as yoga are all important to keeping us healthy. I’ve had a love-hate relationship with exercise over the years but when I’m consistent with it, I definitely feel much better overall.

Best Vegan Supplements In The UK

You can of course find vegan supplements in the Supermarkets or drugstores in the UK, however in my experience they’re not the best supplements for vegan because they aren’t usually very good quality. I have included some vegan supplements available elsewhere in the UK and online.

Holland & Barrett

Holland & Barrett as well as other Independent Health Stores in the UK is another place for the best supplements for vegans.

Holland & Barrett have their own range of vegan supplements and quite often they have great sales on as well which is the perfect time to stock up on vitamins. Prior to the pandemic I did used to go to my local Holland & Barrett and buy my vitamins when they had a penny sale.

You can buy directly from their website or in store.

Omvits

I don’t know much about this brand Omvits but they stock a full range of vegan supplements at affordable prices. They are a UK based supplements brand which was created when they realised that there wasn’t a sustainable alternative to Omega 3 from fish oil.

They’ve also partnered with charity Vitamin Angels to bring life-saving vitamins to children at risk around the world.

The Vegan Society

The Vegan Society have created chewable vegan multivitamins in different flavours. It’s called VEG 1 and it has B12, Iodine, Vitamin D and Selenium. This is the best supplements for vegans if you just need a general multivitamin.

Vegan Vitality

Vegan Vitality is a vegan supplements brand based in the UK, selling throughout Europe. They have a big variety of supplements that you can order from their website making them a good option for vegans.

Vitawake

Vitawake vegan supplements is a service where you can get a personalised vitamin plan delivered to your door every month. In comes in a box with a plastic tray and the days of the month so you can clearly see if you’ve forgotten to take your vitamins.

You just have to fill out the quiz on their website and create the tailored package to suit your needs. I think this service might be the best supplements for vegans, if you’re not quite sure which vegan vitamins you might need, it really simplifies the process for you.

Plastic Free Supplements

First of all I just wanted to say if you do not have access to any of these plastic free supplements or you have specific requirements, please do not feel bad that you are unable to switch to sustainable versions in this case.

When it comes to medication and supplements, there is generally a lot of waste that comes along with it. We have to do what we can of course but sometimes that’s not always possible. As I’m anaemic, I need quite a high strength of Iron and therefore the Iron that I currently buy comes in glass and they don’t do refill packs. It’s something that I’d like to find an alternative for but currently there isn’t one.

Now I will include some of the best supplements for vegans which are also plastic free supplements.

Dr Vegan

I recently discovered Dr Vegan supplements and I love it! When you place your first order they give you their signature storage tin to go along with it for free. You can also sign up for a subscription so you never forget to buy Vitamins again.

They’re specifically catered for vegans as well which is good when looking for the best supplements for vegans. I love the idea of this because although I really enjoyed the previous vegan supplements that I bought in glass – I wanted some plastic free supplements which were in refill packs to reduce my waste a bit more.

I’ve written a Dr. Vegan review, if you’d like to learn more about this great brand!

Solgar UK

I believe Solgar Vitamins are sold worldwide, they’re packaged in amber glass and they’re really good quality vegan supplements. Not all the vitamins they sell are vegan but you can select Vegan on their website to find out easily which ones.

Solgar became a carbon neutral company in 2010 which is pretty cool! I like this brand, they are quite expensive though so really it depends on your budget for plastic free supplements.

Vega Vitamins

Vega Vitamins is where I buy the high strength Iron supplements at the moment. They aren’t completely vegan, however they do have various vegan supplements available and they’re all in glass jars.

Vega Vitamins are manufactured in the UK and they’re owned by Cultech Ltd. The Vega range is available in Pharmicists and Health stores in the UK, but you can still buy directly from their website as well.

I’m also pleased with the communication that I’ve received from this brand. I messaged them about considering a higher strength Iron supplement in the future and they said they’re constantly working to create new formulations so they hope to extend the range in the future.

On their website you can order individual vegan supplements or create a diet profile where you can tailor their supplement packages to just what your body needs.

Vegetology

Vegetology is quite an interesting brand because when I first looked at the website I assumed they used plastic packaging. However, when I looked into them further I realised they use the eco-plastic made from sugar cane. This means that it biodegrades in 10 years, as opposed to 450 years for conventional plastic.

They don’t have a big range but they have the basics that most vegans would need such Multivitamins, Omega 3, B12 & Vitamin D.

Vegums

Vegums available on their website and are another completely vegan supplements company. I haven’t personally tried this one but I know they’re really popular with other vegans. Vegums was created in 2018 with a focus on supporting vegans diets whilst also providing vegan gummy vitamins in sustainable packaging.

These plastic free supplements come in either a cardboard tub or in refill packs made from vegetable starch. They’re also fairly affordable as well for plastic free supplements.

Wild Nutrition

This brand is really cool, it was created in Sussex in 2013 with a focus on sustainable and ethical ingredients. All of their supplements come in glass and although they’re not vegan you can look at their vegan supplements section on their website easily. They are quite expensive so again this does depend on your budget for vitamins.

You can buy Wild Nutrition supplements directly on their website or through Plastic Freedom.

Summary

I hope this has helped you work out the best supplements for vegans. Including some plastic free supplements if you are looking to reduce your plastic waste.

Although, I know vegan supplements might not be necessary for everyone, however I wanted to include some of the best supplements for vegans whatever your budget.

I think it’s really important to listen to your body and if you have any concerns, to consider what your body might be lacking. When in doubt see your doctor or a nutritionist.

If you’re interested in learning the best vegan documentaries to watch, click here.

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