Sovara Health’s Veggie and Vegan Wellness Guide: Tips for Daily Maintenance
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle as a veggie or vegan requires a thoughtful approach to your daily regimen. From essential vitamins and minerals to maintaining gut health, it's essential to ensure you're getting all the necessary nutrients. In this guide, we'll explore daily maintenance tips and insights to help you thrive on a plant-based diet, while honoring your lifestyle choices.
Daily Maintenance Regimen
Structured Water with a Twist: Start your day with structured water infused with a pinch of sea salt, a squeeze of lemon, or a drop of essential oils. This not only enhances hydration but also adds a refreshing twist to your daily routine. If you're feeling really fancy, opt for a sugar free fulvic-humic mineral blend to add daily to your water.
Essential Vitamins and Minerals: As a veggie or vegan, it can be challenging to consume all the necessary nutrients through food alone. Here are some key supplements to consider:
Vitamin A : This essential vitamin supports healthy vision, immune function, and skin health. If you're comfortable with it, look for a blend of retinyl palmitate (animal based) and beta carotene (plant based) for optimal absorption.
Folate (MTHF): Folate is crucial for DNA synthesis and repair, making it an important vitamin to supplement. Additionally, look for methylcobalamin for B12 sources versus cyanocobalamin which is cyanide based.
Vitamin D: While sunlight is a natural source of vitamin D, supplementing can be beneficial, especially if you have limited sun exposure. Look for cholecalciferol as a plant based source of vitamin D and also don't forget safe exposure to natural sunlight as well.
Magnesium Blend: Consider incorporating a magnesium blend into your daily routine. Not only does it help manage constipation, but it also contributes to emotional health. Look for magnesium blends like "Mag Enhance" for maximum benefits. (I love that brand, but I'm not an affiliate and receive no compensation for recommending it.)
Flaxseed Oil: Flaxseed oil is a fantastic source of omega-3 fatty acids, which help maintain a healthy fatty acid balance. High nut and seed diets often cause imbalances between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Elevated omega-6 levels without enough omega-3 to balance can lead to issues like leaky gut, irritable bowel syndrome, and even mental health symptoms. Flaxseed oil is easily accessible and can be a valuable addition to your daily regimen.
Tips for Veggie/Vegan Wellness
Prioritize Gut Health: Approximately 80% of neurotransmitters that play a role in reducing anxiety and depression are produced in the intestinal lining and studies show a growing correlation between mental health symptoms and non-meat based eating lifestyles. Ensure a healthy gut by addressing factors like balanced bacterias, stomach acid levels, unresolved infections, and inflammation. A well-maintained gut lining enhances the body's ability to produce these neurotransmitters, potentially reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other mental and behavioral health conditions.
Watch Your Nuts: Nuts and nut oils are rich in omega-6 fatty acids. While omega-6s are essential, an imbalance can disrupt fatty acid harmony, leading to digestive and emotional symptoms. Balance your omega-6 intake with omega-3 supplements to maintain overall well-being.
The Truth About Collagen: Collagen is often associated with animal sources, but there are vegan-friendly alternatives. Here are some key insights:
- Marine Collagen: This type of collagen has a rigid cell membrane, making it a little harder for the body to absorb. A healthy gut is crucial for maximal benefit from non-animal sources of collagen.
- Vegan Collagen: Vegan collagen products typically contain ingredients that support the body's production of collagen, rather than providing collagen itself. These may include biotin, amino acids, enzymes, and vitamins which will only be beneficial if the intestines are healthy enough to absorb and use these nutrients to produce the collagen you need.
- Beware of Ingredients: Some vegan collagen blends include ingredients like sunflower oil and yeast, which can disrupt gut bacteria levels and cause digestive and emotional symptoms because of high omega-6 fatty acid or high fungal levels.
Overall, the key to optimal collagen production, regardless of your dietary choices, is focusing on gut health. A well-maintained gut ensures the best absorption and utilization of nutrients, supporting your overall well-being.
Maintaining a veggie or vegan lifestyle is not just about what you eat but also about how you support your body's needs. By following a daily maintenance regimen and heeding essential wellness tips, you can thrive on your plant-based journey and enjoy a healthier, happier life.
Are you a vegetarian or vegan struggling with gut issues, chronic headaches, or mild mental health symptoms? We understand how frustrating these challenges can be and how important it is to honor your dietary preferences. Our personalized assessments focus on non-prescription solutions and treatment plans tailored to your unique needs and plant-based lifestyle.
Take the first step toward relief and improved well-being—schedule your assessment today!
