BY TERRASEED / October 6, 2021
Plant based nutrition is a vast and complex subject. When Terraseed set out to develop an all-in-one formula optimized for vegans we knew it was no small endeavor, but we were determined to deliver an easy, convenient solution that covered all the bases for the nutritional needs of plant based individuals while also focusing on sustainable sources.
We started by assembling an all star team of scientists and experts to help us sort through the data and select the nutrients and dosages that would provide our customers with the most nutritional bang for their supplement buck. Leading the charge was Dr. Jennifer Meyers, Ph.D, who leveraged the latest research in plant based nutrition to make sure Terraseed was fully comprehensive. The 9 nutrients in Terraseed were carefully selected for a specific purpose, and here is why.
Omega-3s DHA/EPA
While the Omega-3 fatty acid known as ALA is abundant in plant foods, DHA and EPA are much harder to come by in the plant kingdom.
DHA and EPA are used to build many flexible cells of the body, including the myelin sheath that lines our brain cells. DHA and EPA are essential for everything from brain function, eye health, immune function to cardiovascular health.
While the human body can convert some ALA into DHA and EPA, this process is inefficient and doesn’t meet the dietary needs of the average person. Terraseed discovered algae as an excellent animal-free source of high quality DHA and EPA to make sure your daily needs are met.
Vitamin D3
“Vitamin” D is actually a misnomer, this “vitamin” is actually a hormone that is produced naturally when human skin is exposed to sunlight. As humans migrated away from the equator and began spending more and more time indoors, our ability to produce enough vitamin D was greatly diminished. In fact, this problem exists for both vegans and non vegans alike, with 42% of Americans experiencing vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is essential for bone, tooth, and muscle health and also plays a vital role in supporting the body’s immune system. We source our vitamin D from lichen to provide vegans with a safe and bioavailable source.
Vitamin B12
Nearly 40% of Americans are deficient in vitamin B12. This is because B12 is produced by a bacteria that lives in soil. If you travel back in time, humans used to get all the B12 they needed by eating food right out of the ground (seasoned with some soil) and drinking untreated water. Today, while our modern obsession with cleanliness and sanitation has prevented a lot of disease and extended our life spans, it has also eliminated these sources of B12. Even for omnivores, much of the livestock consumed today is supplemented with B12!
Terraseed is simply cutting the animal out of the equation and delivering the B12 supplements directly to you.
Iodine
Iodine is an essential micronutrient that is very rare in plant based foods. Even in plant foods that contain iodine, the amount tends to vary greatly, making most of them an unreliable source. 20% or more of the general population and up to 80% of vegans are iodine deficient. Iodine plays a crucial role in thyroid health and function.The human body requires iodine to make thyroid hormones, which control the metabolism and play a role in many other important functions of the body.
Iron + Vitamin C
Including Iron in a supplement is sometimes controversial, however the amount included in Terraseed is small enough to pose zero risk to human health while also offering a helping hand to make sure you are getting enough. Iron is essential for the body to produce blood and iron deficiency leads to anemia. Consuming Vitamin C with Iron increases absorption, so we included it to make our supplements as efficient and effective as possible.
Zinc
Zinc is essential for metabolism and immune system function. Many plant foods that contain zinc also contain phytate and other inhibitors of zinc absorption, so it can be difficult for vegans to absorb enough to reach the RDA. We include a healthy dose of bioavailable zinc to give our customers peace of mind.
Folate
Folate, also known as vitamin B-9, plays an essential role in red blood cell formation. It also helps keep the body’s cells healthy and well-functioning. While folate is found in many plant foods, we include it as another helping hand nutrient to keep folate levels optimal.
Magnesium
Magnesium is vital for many functions of the body, including muscle function, nerve function, and energy production. It also plays a very important role in helping the body to absorb and process Vitamin D and Calcium. We included it to ensure the Vitamin D in our formula is effectively delivered and to help make the calcium our customer’s eat in plant foods more bioavailable throughout the day.
We developed our formula with the day to day life of a vegan in mind. Each nutrient and dose was carefully selected to make plant based nutrition simple and convenient!
Learn more about Terraseed's Complete Multivitamin for Vegans here.
Our Progress and Mission in Sustainability
Why you should have vegan vitamins - even if you aren’t vegan.