It will come as a surprise to no one that since the pandemic began way back when, sales of supplements have soared. There has never been more emphasis placed on supporting our bodies and boosting our immune systems and with more time spent at home, self-care practices have transformed from an indulgence to an irrefutable essential.
In 2021, Brits spent over £500 million on vitamins and supplements and 71 per cent of adults now take at least one supplement daily in the UK, according to a report by Mintel - it’s big business, to say the least. This becomes especially important for those following a plant-based diet, which may not offer enough iron, calcium or vitamin B12.
With the rise of veganism (a quarter of Brits have tried or plan to try Veganuary in 2022) comes a surge in vegan supplements. An overwhelming amount of formulas are created from animal derivatives (collagen, for example, is typically bovine or marine) so finding plant-based dietary supports is not always easy but is key to ensure you are getting the right nutrients and minerals.
These supplements should be taken alongside a healthy, balanced diet that is low in saturated fat and packed with fruit, vegetables and whole grains. There are many protein-rich meat alternatives now available for vegans as well as nuts, beans, pulses and soya products that are great sources but if you are still finding you are lacking energy or want to give your immune system, skin or hair a boost, listen up.
In particular, vegans could have a lack of omega-3 fats, vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, iron and zinc. According to the NHS: “Vitamin B12 is only found naturally in foods from animal sources, so sources for vegans are limited and a vitamin B12 supplement may be needed. Adults need about 1.5 micrograms of vitamin B12 a day”.
Furthermore, “Adults need about 700mg of calcium a day, so it’s important that vegans regularly include plenty of these foods in their diet.” While calcium traditionally comes from dairy products and is vital for bone health, it is possible to get your recommended intake through milk replacements like soy, oat, nut and rice as well as bread, dried fruits and of course, supplements.
Omega-3 fatty acids, which are known for their inflammation-fighting benefits and are essential in the healthy functioning heart, brain, gut, joints and eyes, are commonly sourced from fish oil but there are vegan supplement alternatives for that too.
Following a fully-fledged plant-based lifestyle will result in a switch up in the beauty arena too, from hair to skincare. The same is true for your supplements and luckily there are a plethora of editor-approved alternatives that will give your hair, skin and nails a boost from the inside out. Even collagen has been treated to a vegan twist using genetically modified yeast and bacteria.
Best vegan supplements at a glance:
- Best for luscious hair and strong nails: JSHealth Hair + Energy Formula - 60 capsules - £24.99, JSHealth
- Best for an all-rounder, daily supplement: Wellwoman Vegan 60 tablets - £11, Boots
- Best for ultra-personalised, high-tech vitamins delivered to your door: Nourished - £39.99, Nourished
- Best for a vital boost in skin radiance and energy: YourZooki Vitamin C 30x15ml sachets - £40.49, Healf
- Best for a winter-ready immunity booster: Together Health Vegan Vitamin D3 food supplement 30 caps - £6.59, Amazon
- Best for a variety of all-natural supplements to complete your collection: Wild Nutrition Vitamin C & Bioflavonoids 60 caps - £24, Amazon
- Best for re-energizing goodness: Holland & Barrett Complete B Vitamin B Complex 250 Caplets - £9.99, Holland and Barrett
- Best for an entirely free-from daily multivitamin: Dr.Vegan Daily Multivitamin 60 Capsules - £18.99, Dr.Vegan
- Best for an all-over rejuvenation of the skin and body: G Herbal - £24.50, GHerbal
- Best for gummies: Novomins Women’s Bio-Balance - £14.99, Superdrug
- Best for an antioxidant boost: The Nue Co. Vitamin C Capsules - £16, Cult Beauty
- Best for tackling fatigue: VITL Rise & Energise - £8.99, VITL
- Best for the extensive health benefits of turmeric: NutraVita Organic Turmeric with Black Pepper & Ginger - £17.99, NutraVita
- Best for mental clarity: Fushi Rhodiola Organic Supplement - £18, Naturisimo
- Best for harnessing the benefits of lion’s mane: DIRTEA Lion’s Mane powder - £29.99, DIRTEA
Find out more about the vegan supplements below.
JSHealth Hair + Energy Formula - 60 capsules
Best for: luscious hair and strong nails
If the impressive before and after photos weren’t enough to win you over, JSHealth’s Hair + Energy supplements also have seemingly endless five-star customer reviews that all boast about the vitamin’s almost miraculous ability to make hair grow longer, stronger and fortify nails. They are made up of a combination of zinc and kelp - and best of all, are vegan. The capsules do have a strangely fishy taste but it’s a small price to pay for the extensive benefits.
Buy now £24.99, JSHealth
Vitabiotics Wellwoman Vegan 60 tablets
Best for: an all-rounder, daily supplement
Vitabiotics has long been a go-to label for those looking to get their fix of helpful vitamins and minerals that may be missing from their diet. These tablets have been created especially for vegans and vegetarians to be rich in iron, vitamin B12 and vitamin D.
The product has been created with a mix of 23 nutrients that include pantothenic acid, folate and iron to counteract fatigue, boost energy levels and help the natural formation of red blood cells, evening primrose oil and starflower oil, vitamin B6 to regulate hormone activity and vitamin C, selenium and zinc to encourage collagen production for healthy hair, skin and nails. Take two capsules per day with your main meal.
Buy now £12.00, Boots
Nourished
Best for: ultra-personalised, high-tech vitamins delivered to your door
Nourished is personalising the supplement game. Take the quiz and choose the benefits that you’re looking for in your dietary add-on and it will use a proprietary algorithm to create a customised formula packed with seven science-backed nutrients. In gummy form, they are then 3D printed and sent directly to your home. All the vitamins are vegan, free from any nasties and the packaging is all plastic-free and compostable.
Buy now £39.99, Nourished
YourZooki Vitamin C 30x15ml sachets
Best for: a vital boost in skin radiance and energy
The importance of vitamin C has been stressed since our childhood but it has only recently become a staple skincare ingredient for its glow-giving results.
On top of your topical application, take one sachet daily of this supplement to give your complexion radiance from the outside in, while also adding more antioxidants to your diet that will protect against the effects of free radicals. It plays a vital role in the growth, development and repair of body tissues and encourages the proper functioning of your immune system.
Buy now £40.49, Healf
Together Health Vegan Vitamin D3 food supplement 30 caps
Best for: a winter-ready immunity booster
In the UK, especially over the light-deprived winter months, we don’t get nearly enough vitamin D. The sunshine vitamin is important for bone and muscle strength as well as immune function. Alternative ways of adding to your diet are through fish like salmon, tuna and cod liver and thus, can be difficult for vegans to incorporate.
Enter this supplement from Together Health that offers an active form of the vitamin for better absorption. The key ingredient - wild lichen - is harvested in remote, clean mountain regions using sustainable practices and is free from chemicals.
Buy now £6.99, Amazon
Wild Nutrition Food-Grown Vitamin C Capsules
Best for: a variety of all-natural supplements to complete your collection
Wild Nutrition is another of our favourite supplement brands that offer an extensive range of vegan vitamin sources created using food ingredients and developed with medicinal nutrition experts.
The range includes iron, magnesium, omega 3, vitamin D, and this specialised Vitamin C & Bioflavonoids option. The latter is derived from a citrus pulp that is effectively absorbed and retained in the body.
Buy now £24.00, Amazon
Holland & Barrett Complete B Vitamin B Complex 250 Caplets
Best for: re-energizing goodness
This Holland & Barrett own-brand supplement is designed for those times when you’re not feeling like yourself. If you’re feeling tired, stressed and run down, this could be due to a lack of the energy-boosting vitamin B.
It is offered in an array of different forms including folic acid which is important for pregnant women, vitamin B12 to reduce tiredness and fatigue, vitamin B6 for the immune system, niacin for healthy skin and many more.
Buy now £9.99, Holland & Barrett
DR.VEGAN Daily Multivitamin 60 Capsules
Best for: an entirely free-from daily multivitamin
There is no second guessing here whether this brand is vegan, it spells it out from the very beginning. The UK-born label specialises in plant-based, naturally sourced supplements that are entirely free from any animal derivatives as well as no added sugar and gluten-free. There’s an eco-conscious twist too: all the packaging is biodegradable.
This Daily Multivitamin is a great all-rounder that offers 24 essential nutrients in one handy daily dose for all things energy, beauty and brain-related. Some highlights are iron for energy and the healthy functioning of the immune system and cognitive abilities as well as zinc for skin and hair.
Buy now £17.50, Dr Vegan
G Herbal
Best for: an all-over rejuvenation of the skin and body
G Herbal is borne out of Bali and uses only natural ingredients grown on the brand’s farms in Indonesia. Inspired by traditional herbal medicines, there are five supplements in the range that can be sampled alone or mixed and matched as needed.
SKIN, as you may guess, is designed to give you a clearer complexion and revive and rejuvenate dull skin. It contains a combination of active ingredients including the blemish-busting antioxidant Garcinia mangostana (Mangosteen) pericarp extract that is also an anti-inflammatory, Centella asiatica (Gotu Kola) herbal extract to encourage healing and cell growth, and the anti-bacterial Curcuma xanthorrhiza (Temulawak) rhizoma extract. The formula works to stimulate skin turnover, repair scarring and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The dose is two capsules in the evening after dinner.
The collection also includes BLISS for a mood enhancer and sleep aid, BODY for immunity and energy, WOMAN which is designed for when Aunt Flo visits and WEIGHT to encourage better digestion and reduce bloating.
All the products are vegan, gluten-free and do not contain any GMOs. The packaging is also all recyclable.
Buy now £24.50, G Herbal
Novomins Women’s Bio-Balance
Best for: Gummies
If you prefer gummies to pills, these strawberry-flavoured chewable supplements are easy to take. Pop two daily for a boost of 4 billion friendly bacteria, including three types of lactobacillus strains that will not only support your gut biome but will also reach the intimate area to help with thrush and BV.
If that’s not enough they also include calcium and cranberry extract for a healthy urinary tract for those susceptible to UTIs. Plus, they’re vegan, gluten-free and halal, so safe for all to take.
Buy now £14.99, Superdrug
The Nue Co. Vitamin C Capsules
The Nue Co. creates its supplements using the finest natural ingredients, each of which is selected after a rigorous process of scientific testing. This targeted option is all about ensuring that we get our daily dose of vitamin C where the brand uses citrus bioflavonoids to encourage better absorption by the body.
The antioxidant-rich capsules were designed to provide an energy boost, and support immunity and there is also a suggestion from reviewers that it brightened their complexions. The label provides a vegan option that is free from nasties or fillers.
Buy now £16.00, Cult Beauty
VITL Rise & Energise
VITL’s Rise & Energise vegan pills are a popular choice for tackling fatigue during day-to-day life. Formulated with a range of the purest and most bioavailable vitamins, they’re easy to absorb, allowing you to enjoy all of the goodness contained in each digestible capsule.
These hard-hitting supplements don’t hold back the benefits. There’s a blend of a full B vitamin complex with vitamin C as well as Siberian ginseng to help reduce fatigue and support energy levels and CoQ10 to help reduce symptoms of fatigue.
Buy now £8.99, VITL
NutraVita Organic Turmeric with Black Pepper & Ginger 180 Vegan Capsules
Take two of NutraVita’s capsules and you'll be boosted with 1340 mg of organic turmeric, 80mg of organic ginger and 20mg of organic black pepper. Sourced organically from India, this three-month supply works synergistically to provide a powerful blend for your health and is certified organic by the prestigious Soil Association.
Buy now £17.99, NutraVita
Fushi Rhodiola Organic Supplement
Fushi's Rhodiola Organic Supplement is an organic, vegan-friendly dietary add-on that is highly bolstered with all of the good stuff. With 400 mg per capsule, you can expect enhanced mental clarity, reduced mental fatigue and a supported healthy mind when taking these regularly.
All of Fushi's supplements make use of ethically sourced, biodynamically grown ingredients. Ensuring they possess maximum potency, nothing is older than three months when turned into supplement form.
Buy now £18.00, Naturisimo
DIRTEA Lion’s Mane powder
If you’re a big fan of mushrooms and tea then this nootropic is the one for you - a tea which can stimulate the brain with just a few sips. Add the powder to hot water and drink it like tea, or pop it in your favourite smoothie or plant-based milk for a very focused start to your day.
Lion’s mane is said to help with anxiety and depression, while also improving memory and cognition. It may also help stimulate new nerves in the brain, working as a ‘brain tonic’ to give you more focus and brain power - helping you with whatever the day may bring you.
Buy now £29.99, DIRTEA
