The Macrominerals

A vegan diet can easily supply the necessary macrominerals for optimum health. Still, many people’s first reaction to telling them you’re vegan is ‘but where do you get your calcium from if you don’t drink milk?’. Read all about vegan sources of calcium and you’ll be better prepared to throw their assumptions about the Milk Myth out the window.

Magnesium is another important macromineral, being essential to the body in its own right, but also alongside calcium to help with proper absorption and metabolism. Don’t forget your vitamin D as well, as this is vitally important for absorption of both of these minerals along with a multitude of uses in the body. There are vegan and non-vegan forms of vitamin D so don’t get caught out, read the Tasty Vegan’s guide to getting your vitamin D.

Some may consider Zinc to be another macromineral as it often comes alongside Calcium and Magnesium in mineral formulas. Techinically we don’t need as much Zinc as we need of the other two minerals, but it’s very important nonetheless and is one of the nutrients that vegans may become deficient in when first becoming vegan. Avoid this pitfall by reading the guide to optimal health when turning vegan. This guide also looks at iodine, one of the microminerals also of concern when turning vegan.

The other minerals (microminerals) that we need in slightly lower doses are detailed and discussed along with food sources, and supplemental forms at the links below.

Selenium
Iron
Boron and Strontium
Potassium and Sodium
Chromium
Vanadium, Manganese, and Molybdenum

‘How to Optimise Vitamin and Mineral Absorption’ is a Tasty Vegan guide worth reading prior to taking any of these supplements. Also take a look at ‘Important Vitamins for Vegans’.

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