Essential Vegan Multivitamin B12, Omega 3 & D3

Many customers have left us reviews reporting that they felt more energetic, had an improved mood and enhanced mental clarity, almost immediately. Seriously, we’ve had over a 100 reviews now. Others might not notice a difference at all though, and that’s just fine, because it means that the nutrients are hard at work on the inside. If you have lower levels of B12 and Vitamin D, you might notice a difference in just a few weeks, whereas Omega-3 generally provides greater benefits over a longer time (it keeps our brain healthy as we age). These nutrients aren’t just “nice to haves”, they’re essential for our bodies to function optimally.

As vegans, we built this product initially for our own use (and our families), so quality is of the utmost importance to us.

We work with an FDA-regulated and a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certified facility within the USA. Our facility has an intense quality control and raw ingredient supplier vetting process. We also carry out third party testing on every single batch.

We use the Methylcobalamin form, due in part to a 2017 study which suggested that Methylcobalamin may be easier for the body to use (more bioavailable) than the cyanocobalamin form, which the body must convert.

As a bonus (and unlike 99% of other B12 products on the market), we also include the adenosylcobalamin form to ensure optimal absorption.

1. The body typically absorbs only 1% of B12, so a 400mcg dosage is really only 4mcg.

2. The RDI is 2.4mcg (which would be 240mcg), however, vegans tend to have lower B12 levels and the elderly require higher levels, which is why we chose 400mcg (basically 5mcg).

3. Since B12 is water soluble, we urinate any excess out and it’s been proven safe at very high doses.

4. However, our B12 dosage is one of the lowest on the market and we’re proud of that. If you go to Amazon you will see the top doses are between 1000mcg and 5000mcg vs our 400mcg.

5. Our B12 dosage was based on Dr Michael Greger’s guidelines, whom I would argue is the leading expert on plant-based nutrition. He has since revised his recommendations slightly based on new information, but since our product is taken by those of all ages, we prefer to include enough to support all ages given there hasn’t been a tolerable upper intake level established, since it’s so safe.

As vegans we must supplement B12 as there’s no natural vegan source (even omnivores are getting B12 as a supplement, since the animals they eat are given B12 supplements instead). A B12 deficiency can lead to physical and psychological symptoms, including irreversible nerve damage, fatigue and difficulty thinking. If you’ve only become vegan recently, it’s quite possible that you still have some B12 stores from when you ate animal products, but this will be almost completely depleted within 3 years.

The majority of people living in developed countries are not getting enough Vitamin D. You generally need to spend at least 20 minutes in direct midday sunlight to get enough, but for most of us with indoor jobs, that’s simply not possible. A vitamin D deficiency has been associated with poor bone growth, cardiovascular disease and cognitive impairment.

Finally, the majority of people, vegan or not, don’t get enough Omega-3, specifically the fatty acids EPA and DHA. It’s possible to get enough by eating multiple servings of chia seeds and flax seeds, which produce the fatty acid ALA, but the conversion to EPA and DHA is very inefficient, which is why leading doctors like Dr. Michael Greger, recommend supplementing with an algae-derived Omega-3. Omega-3 has been shown to help protect our brain as we age.

Yes, it’s absolutely suitable for kids 11+. However, as with any supplement, it’s always worth consulting with a doctor for anyone under the age of 18.

We designed our Essential for Vegans by asking: What do we really need? It turns out that if you eat a vegan diet with fruits and vegetables, it’s really just 3 core nutrients: B12, Vitamin D and Omega-3.

In fact taking vitamins and minerals that you don’t need, like iron, can sometimes be bad for your health. Here’s why we didn’t include these micronutrients in our Essential for Vegans:

Calcium - So long as your diet includes dark green leafy vegetables like kale, broccoli and bok choy, you should get enough calcium from your diet. If you don’t eat these foods, we recommend our plant-based Vegan Calcium supplement.

Iron - You should only take an iron supplement if your doctor advises you too. Men in particular often have high Iron levels and taking too much iron can be dangerous. While deficiencies are common, particularly among younger women, vegans are not at any higher risk of a deficiency, potentially due to their higher Vitamin C consumption which helps with absorption. For those that need an iron supplement, we recommend our Vegan Iron with Vitamin C.

Zinc - While vegans tend to consume less zinc, it appears that we’re better able to absorb the zinc we do consume, so there is no noticeable difference. Whole grains, tempeh and tofu are all good dietary sources of zinc. For those that don’t eat these foods, we recommend our Vegan Zinc supplement.

Iodine - The majority of vegans consume enough iodine through iodized or seaweed. For those that don’t eat much salt or seaweed, we recommend our Iodine supplement (2 month supply).

Vitamin K - You can easily get enough Vitamin K from your diet by eating dark leafy greens.

Our Essential for Vegans was designed specifically for those on vegan or plant-based diets. If you eat fruits and vegetables on a daily basis, then you’re likely already getting enough vitamins and minerals, which is why the Essential for Vegans focuses on 3 core nutrients: B12, Vitamin D & Omega-3. For those that don’t eat much iodized salt or seaweed, we also recommend taking our Iodine (for your thyroid health). The Essential for Vegans is also great for those who struggle to swallow tablets, as the softgels are tiny and easy to swallow.

Our Complete Vegan Multivitamin was designed for all diets, with enough B12 to still work well for a vegan diet, but enough vitamins and minerals for those who just want an “everything vitamin” to cover all your bases. If you tend not to eat many fruits and vegetables, this might be a better choice for you. It also contains probiotics and digestive enzymes. It doesn’t contain Omega-3 though (we couldn’t fit it in), so if you’re vegan and choose the Complete Vegan Multivitamin, then we recommend taking it with our Vegan Omega-3. For omnivores and pescatarians, you may well already be getting enough Omega-3 through your diet.

Both are fantastic high-quality vitamins, so it really comes down to your diet.