What is the Best Plant-Based D3 Supplement? Top Vegan Vitamin D Supplements for 2019
There are certain vitamins that vegans tend to not get enough of. While vitamin B12 deficiencies are well known, there’s another one that vegans should take care to get: vitamin D. It’s true that you can get vitamin D from sunshine, but it’s also essential to get as much of the vitamin as you can from your diet, as it offers a wide variety of health benefits. Vegans are well advised to invest in high quality, vegan friendly vitamin D supplements in order to support their general health.
Traditional vitamin D supplements get their key ingredient from sheep’s wool, but there are vegan supplements out there that use plant-based ingredients and feature vitamin D from algae, lichen, and more. It’s essential to get this nutrient, because vitamin D plays a big role in several different body functions, including supporting strong and healthy bones, immune function, reducing inflammation, regulating calcium, and more. If vegans don’t get enough vitamin D, they may have brittle bones, inflammation, and issues with their immune system.
Top 5 Vegan Vitamin D Supplements
Are There Different Kinds of Vitamin D?
There are two main variations of this nutrient: D2 and D3. The main difference is their bioactivity.
- The D2 form is found in mushrooms and certain plants. It’s produced as a response to radiation. Unfortunately, eating these mushrooms and plants isn’t enough because it’s not nearly as potent as D3.
- The D3 form is the most biologically active type of the vitamin, and has been shown to be almost 90% more potent. It also has up to 300% greater storage. This is the form of vitamin D that your skin produces as well when you come into contact with sunlight. When you invest in supplements, look for ones that have vitamin D3.
How Much Vitamin D Do Vegans Need?
It’s recommended that vegans should get 2,000 IU-10,000 IU each day in order to get full benefits and support whole body health. Studies have shown that a maximum of 10,000 IU vitamin D3 per day doesn’t have any risk of causing negative side effects and may be especially beneficial for vegans. Your recommended daily intake will also vary due to several factors such as weight and height.
While vitamin D is most well known for its support in bone health, it offers a wide variety of other health benefits. Even a minimum amount of daily recommended intake has been associated with:
- Better dental health
- An increase in the mineral density of bones
- Reduced risk of getting fractures from falls
- Reduced risk of colorectal cancer
- Improved overall wellbeing
What Should Vegans Avoid When Considering Vitamin D Supplements?
Vegans should be careful when they buy vitamin D3 supplements; it’s not as simple as walking into a store and buying the first supplement you lay your eyes on. It’s important to take several features into careful consideration as you’re looking for a supplement that adheres to your lifestyle choices.
First, be careful to invest in D3 supplements, not the D2 form, so you get as much potency and effectiveness as possible. Unfortunately, most vitamin D3 supplements are not vegan friendly because they’re derived from lanolin, which is a waxy substance that comes from the wool of sheep. As long as you look carefully, you’ll be able to find supplements on the market that use D3 from lichen, algae, or other plant sources, making it safe to take. Look for supplements that are certified vegan and make it clear that their vitamin D comes from plant sources.
You should also take care to invest in supplements that feature vegan capsules and don’t contain any gelatin, as gelatin is derived from animals. This small fact is something that many vegans unfortunately overlook.
The Best Vegan Vitamin D Supplement List
① Ora Organic Vegan Vitamin D3 Pills
This Vitamin D supplement by Ora Organic makes the top of our list with 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 per serving, and organic sunflower lecithin that enhances your body’s natural absorption, so you get as much from the pill as possible. There’s absolutely no fillers, soy, GMOs, gluten, or dairy in this supplement, which is 100% organic and vegan. Many vitamin D3 supplements are created from sheep’s wool grease, but this one comes sustainably from lichen, which is a plant species. This D3 comes to you in small tablets that are convenient and easy to take. You’ll get a one-month supply of 30 unflavored tablets that contain zero fillers or artificial ingredients, and help maintain a healthy immune system, fortify bone health, reduce fatigue, and enhance your ability to absorb calcium.
Pros
- Free of fillers, artificial ingredients, soy, gluten, dairy, or GMOs
- Features plant-based vitamin D3 from lichen that’s vegan and organic
- Convenient to take and unflavored
Cons
- Some users wished that there was more D3 per pill
- Pills are hard to swallow; users wished they were chewable tablets
② ONNIT Vitamin D3 Spray With Vitamin K2 in MCT Oil
This vitamin D supplement from ONNIT is delivered in a unique spray that combines with MCT oil and vitamin K2, which boost your body’s ability to absorb the D3 vitamin and ensure you get as much as you can from your investment. It’s available in one of three flavors, either passion fruit guava, grapefruit, or unflavored, so it’s easy to get the D3 you need and ensure that you’re not one of the 23 million Americans who suffers from a deficiency of the vitamin. Taking vitamin D3 can enhance your levels of calcium, and these work together to provide strong bones and teeth. Supplementing with K2 can additionally guide where that calcium goes within your body, sending it to where you need it the most. This spray is plant based and provides 1,000 IU of lichen-derived vitamin D in each serving. Since it’s a spray, the D3 enters your system quicker than traditional capsules or tablets, and much easier to take on the go. Simply take five sprays a day, preferably with food.
Pros
- Includes vitamin K2, which guides the delivery of calcium and D3
- Easy to take on the go and enters your system more quickly
- Available in three different flavors to suit users’ tastes
Cons
- Expensive investment
- Some users disliked the taste, and experienced a weird aftertaste when taken with food
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③ MaryRuth Organics Vegan Vitamin D3+B12 Gummy
You can get your vitamin D fix through these tasty, convenient gummies fro MaryRuth Organics. Made with 100% organic ingredients, these gummies are non-GMO, completely vegan with vitamin D3 derived from lichen, and free of any gluten. They’re also a great choice for both men and women, and are safe enough for children; the delicious strawberry flavor is perfect for the whole family. Since the Vitamin D is combined with Vitamin B12, you can support two deficiencies that vegans tend to suffer from, and support your whole health with a boost of energy that will last all day. At only five calories per serving and up to a two month supply, you’ll achieve better health with 250 mcg of Vitamin B12 and 1,000 IUs of Vitamin D3 per serving. MaryRuth Organics also is third party tested and operates from a facility that is GMP compliant. If you’d like strong bones and a boost of energy, just take one gummy each day.
Pros
- Delicious and safe for the entire family
- Contains additional B12 for an energy boost and whole-health support
- Third party tested and created in a GMP compliant facility
Cons
- Contains nuts, due to coconut oil
- First ingredient is cane sugar, then tapioca syrup; gummies are full of sugar
④ Naturelo Vitamin D3 From Wild-Harvested Lichen
This vitamin D3 from Naturelo comes from lichen that’s wild-harvested. In each serving, you’ll get an astonishing 2,500 IU of D3 with this non-GMO, vegan, whole food supplement that supports the health of your joints, bones, and immune system. It’s 100% plant based and has high potency, due to using the cholecalciferol active form of D3. This offers the highest possible bio-availability, and your body will absorb this supplement more easily than ever. Naturelo is third party tested to ensure quality and purity, and all of its products are made right here in the USA. Its vitamin D3 supplement contains zero preservatives, additives, nuts, corn, dairy, soy, GMOs, or gluten. Featuring vitamins and minerals from nature, this pill aids calcium absorption, and prevents vitamin deficiency as it aids strong bones, strong teeth, and excellent muscle growth. To get these benefits, simply take one capsule a day with food.
Pros
- Maximum potency of 2,500 IU D3 per serving
- Third party tested to ensure purity and quality
- Whole food supplement that has high bioavailability
Cons
- Made no difference for some users
- Are not very easy to take/swallow
⑤ Pure Therapro Rx Vegan D3+K2 “Full Spectrum” Drops
You can get your vitamin D3 fix with these full-spectrum drops from Pure Therapro. They contain vitamin K2 as well for the best absorption possible, and when you take just five drops, you’ll get 5,000 IU of vitamin D3, 500 mcg of vitamin K2 (MK4 version), and 180 mcg of vitamin K2 (MK7 version). It’s ideal to take K2 and D3 together, because K2 helps to direct the calcium directly where it’s needed the most, and to your bones. Otherwise, your calcium supplement may reside in soft tissue. Both MK-4 and MK-7 of K2 are also ideal, because they distribute differently and deal with different proteins; Mk-4 is key for the brain, while MK-4 travels across the placenta. This high quality supplement features whole foods and will be recognized by your entire body for optimal health. It doesn’t contain gluten, yeast, soy, dairy or animal products, or artificial preservatives, sweeteners, or colors.
Pros
- Full spectrum drops that include K2 for maximum absorption
- Spreads needed calcium throughout the entire body
- Contains whole foods
Cons
- Have to take five sprays for optimal benefit; the product does not last long
- Have to consume with meals that feature healthy fats in order to achieve best results
⑥ Garden of Life Raw D3 Supplement
This supplement from Garden of Life features raw D3 from organic green Cracked Wall chlorella, which is gluten and dairy free and features 5,000 IU of the essential vitamin. It’s one of the only vegan, whole food, raw supplements available that are provided to you in a liquid base that includes enzymes and probiotics for optimal digestion and overall health. It supports the health of your joints and bones, as well as digestive and colon health, your concentration and memory, prostate and breast health (making this the perfect supplement for both men and women), immune system health, and proper cell replication. The Vitamin D3 is easily absorbed and metabolised, and you get it in a form that’s dairy and gluten free, with zero fillers or binders. Garden of Life features products that are completely traceable, as well as organic, pure, and clean. Just take one capsule a day, either alone or opened and added to juice or water.
Pros
- Whole food, raw supplement
- Great for both women and men and achieves optimal health
- Easily metabolized and absorbed
Cons
- Ingredient list is not as clear or transparent as other brands
- Not safe for children to consume
Conclusion & What is the Best Vitamin D Supplement
Vitamin D3 is an essential nutrient that many vegans unfortunately have a deficiency in. It’s a wise idea to take vitamin D supplements to ensure you’re getting all the health benefits that this vitamin has to offer, including strong bones, positive immunity, and overall wellness. Look for supplements that contain high quality ingredients that are all completely plant-sourced and which offer the maximum amount required for your daily intake. Most supplements are great for both men and women, and some are safe for the entire family to take. In the end, it’s easy to find great vitamin D supplements that contain D3, are organic, vegan, and have exactly what you need to support your whole health.
Check out our favorite, Ora Organic Vitamin D3 Pills (CHECK BEST PRICE HERE).
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