A question that has been lingering in my mind, for the last 9 years, which is way too long, is am I getting all the nutrients I need from my diet as a vegan? I’ve physically felt great eating whole foods plant based (with my fair share of vegan junk food, as you see pictured) and as a 20-something person who hasn’t gotten majorly sick or injured since 2009, it just didn’t seem like a priority for me to fully confirm my overall health status.
I regularly take Deva Vegan Multivitamins that have 100% the daily value of B12 and 50% of Iron, two nutrients that are of the highest concern for vegans. (I have also taken Garden of Life Multivitamin for Women in the past.) I figured if I was eating my leafy greens and supplementing with a multivitamin, that I was probably fine. It’s interesting to make the comparison that when becoming vegan it’s important to insure you have all the right nutrients but it was something I didn’t think about at all as an omnivore. Shouldn’t that be important for everyone? My diet was primarily the same as an omnivore but after making the switch to eating vegan, my consumption of fruits and vegetables increased tremendously. The variety of foods I consumed also increased tremendously. There is a myth when you cut out meat and dairy, that you will be limited on what you can eat, but when your food groups get cut, you’re able to dive deeper in the ones can eat from.
So I could sit around for almost another decade and assume I am a healthy vegan, but was I? Fortunately there is a very easy solution to this question. HealthLabs.com is now offering blood tests for people that are considering becoming vegan and for people that have been vegan for an extended period of time. Because I am a longtime vegan, I took the Vegan Nutritional Maintenance Panel which tests for these 11 most common deficiencies:
B-12
Calcium
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
D-25 Hydroxy (Vitamin D-3)
Ferritin
Folic Acid
Homocysteine
Iron
Zinc
The whole process with HealthLabs was streamlined and went well. I was instructed to chose the lab where my blood would be drawn and there were many locations around me. I was able to show up at the lab whenever it was convenient and the woman who drew my blood was very kind. Always a plus when needles are around. And I got my results quickly!
My levels were “normal” for everything I was tested for, except my RDW which is under the testing for Complete Blood Count (CBC) was considered low according to the “Reference Range.” I was only .03 too low and I have found other ranges online that conclude my red blood cell distribution can also be considered normal, so I am not THAT concerned. But on the same note, awareness is key!
My Iron level is 43 at a 27-159 reference range and my B12 level is 496 at a 232-1245 range so I was deemed normal for both of those nutrients. The numbers did seem a little low but apparently “vegetarians and vegans may have lower iron stores than omnivores.” In my research, apparently having a low store for iron isn’t a bad thing. The No Meat Athlete explains, “low-normal iron stores are beneficial: improved insulin function and lower rates of heart disease and cancer.” Sounds good to me!
The point of these vegan tests from HealthLabs is to “identify your deficiencies, address them, and live a healthier life.” So I feel from this point on, I just need to be more mindful of my iron absorption. You are able to absorb 5x the amount of iron if you combined plant based iron sources like beans, grains and seeds with vitamin-c that is found in fruits and vegetables. Find more ways to absorb iron here.
Other vegan tests from HealthLabs are variations of different “Should I Be Vegan” tests which can help determine if your body cannot tolerate animal derived foods. Did you know that most humans cannot tolerate dairy milk but throughout history we’ve built up a tolerance over time? Wouldn’t it be beneficial to know if there are other things you shouldn’t be eating?
I’m happy to share that HealthLabs is offering 25% off to anyone that mentions you heard of them through cityloveee.com! Just call them at 1-800-579-3914 and mention the discount code CITYLOVE100 to get a discount on a vegan test! (Discount is for phone orders only.) So if you are vegan or someone wanting to become vegan, HealthLabs can help! Let me know if you have an questions or if you think it’s a good fit for you!
– Christina
This post is sponsored by HealthLabs but my opinion is my own. There is also affiliate links which means I receive a commission (at no cost to you) if you make a purchase using that link.