How To Get Optimal Nutrition On a Vegan Diet
As we start to reconnect and explore what true health looks like, not just in our body, but in our mind, environment, and ethereal body… we come closer to nature and all that it has to offer. Veganism has reached the Hip Hop culture and beyond, and many are jumping on the bandwagon so they feel and look better. The issue that many may be having though is they don’t exactly know how to be plant-based and get everything they need to be healthy! There are steps to take in order to fully live a “green” life, and you have to change certain habits in order to live it wholly.
As a vegetarian or vegan, you need to eat very carefully to ensure you get all the nutrients needed for optimum wellness. Many of the foods you now avoid are rich sources of vitamin B₁₂ so, to ensure you get enough of it naturally, you’ll have to eat things that have been fortified with it, things like breakfast cereals and plant milk. Still, it’s not always possible to consume enough of it, especially in the case of zinc, another mineral vegetarians and vegans often lack. While you can find zinc in things like wheat germ, tofu, hemp seeds, lentils and oatmeal they’re not always at the top of everybody’s shopping list. Also, you’d need to eat three cups of tofu or six cups of oatmeal to get your daily requirement. Therefore, you need to be pretty strategic and quite clever in order to give your body its fill of nutrients.
Getting enough nutrients, especially of vitamin B₁₂ and zinc, is vital to your health and developing a deficiency can happen so slowly you only realize it once the symptoms kick in – and at that point, your reserves will be pretty far gone. There is a chance that a strict vegetarian may not see signs of the deficiency for quite some time, as the body can store up to 5 years of B₁₂.
Signs for vegans or vegetarians to look out for
The symptoms of a vitamin deficiency are tricky because you might only have some of them, not all of them. They include:
Brain fog
Pale skin
Weakness
Fatigue
Dizziness
Heart palpitations
Insomnia
Mood changes
Headaches (more than before)
Gastro issues (excessive gas, diarrhea, constipation)
Nerve issues (shooting pains)
Sore muscles
Hair or vision loss
Glossitis (an inflamed tongue) and mouth sores
Incorporating Nutrients is a Lifestyle
There’s more than one way to skin a cat! Did your grandma say things like this to you? LOL… Well there’s always more than one way to assist your body in doing what its built to do, that’s for sure! Not only can you supplement nutrients by ingesting herbs, but you can also infuse these herbs into your bloodstream via IV Therapy and even Hydrotherapy. At Laya, we use all 3 methods of natural infusion. Each therapy builds on the next to create a well-rounded health routine that ensures you’re getting the nutrients you need and the healing herbs to balance your internal environment.
THE NUTRIENTS
Vitamin B₁₂
Vitamin B₁₂ is the most chemically complex of all the vitamins and is the general name for a group of essential biological compounds known as cobalamins. The cobalamins are similar to hemoglobins in the blood except that instead of iron they contain cobalt. Vitamin B₁₂ is needed to prevent anemia; it aids folic acid in regulating the formation of red blood cells, and helps in the utilization of iron. This vitamin is also required for proper digestion, absorption of foods, and the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats. It aids in cell formation and cellular longevity. In addition Vitamin B₁₂ prevents nerve damage, maintains fertility, and promotes normal growth and development by maintaining the fatty sheaths that cover and protect nerve endings.
A Vitamin B₁₂ deficiency can cause abnormal gait, bone loss, chronic fatigue, constipation, depression, digestive diorders, dizziness, drowsiness, enlargement of the liver, eye disorders, hallucinations, headaches (migraines), inflammation of the tongue, irritability, labored breathing, memory loss, moodiness, nervousness, neurological damage, palpitations, pernicious anemia, ringing in the ears, and spinal-cord degeneration.
How to get it
Vegans and vegetarians can find Vitamin B₁₂ in sea vegetables such as: dulse, kelp, bladderwrack, and nori. It can also be found in Soybeans and other soy products. Traces of B₁₂ is also present in the herbs alfalfa and hops. Our Seamoss capsules contain 3 of the sea vegetables on this list and is a great way to supplement for B₁₂ while boosting energy, focus, digestion, and metabolic levels.
Because there may be an instance where anticoagulants and potassium may block the absorption of Vitamin B₁₂ from the digestive tract, Hydrotherapy infusion is another great option. For a high dose, natural way to body infuse… choose Hydrotherapy. Who doesn’t love a good spa treatment, wrapped in a cozy cocoon of steamy goodness while getting your fill of Vitamin B₁₂ ? At the Laya Center, our Water element is done by infusing the medicinal and nutrient dense properties of herbs. This process infuses a highly concentrated value of the the herbal constituents into your bloodstream by way of the body’s own interstitium. Think of the interstitium as your cellular veins, running throughout the body carrying the liquid infusion to where it needs it most. The Seaweed Hydrotherapy treatment infuses sea herbs directly into the body, interacting on a cellular level.
Routine Bathing Rituals is another way to infuse your herbs into the body, bypassing the digestive system. Though it won’t provide a highly concentrated dose of the herbal constituents, a weekly routine will provide your body with these nutrients as well as peace of mind. Make it your business to submerge in a Seaweed Bath infusion each week, and make it a memorable routine by adding the Sea Sponge to exfoliate and activate the lymph system.
Zinc
This mineral is important to prostate gland function and the growth and the reproductive organs. Zinc may help prevent acne and regulate the activity of oil glands. It is required for protein synthesis and collagen formation, and promotes a healthy immune system and the healing of wounds. Zinc also enhances acuity of taste and smell. It protects the liver from chemical damage and is vital for bone formation. It is a constituent of insulin and many vital enzymes, including the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD). It also helps to fight and prevent the formation of free radicals. Zinc is also needed for proper maintenance of vitamin E levels in the blood and aids in the absorption of vitamin A.
A deficiency of Zinc may result in the loss of the senses of taste and smell. It can also cause fingernails to become thin, peel, and develop white spots. Other possible signs of Zinc deficiency include acne, delayed sexual maturation, fatigue, growth impairment, hair loss, high cholesterol levels, impaired night vision, impotence, increased susceptibility to infections, infertility, memory impairment, a propensity to diabetes, prostate trouble, recurrent colds and flu, skin lesions, and slow wound healing.
How to get it
Zinc can be found in the following food sources: brewer’s yeast, dulse, kelp, legumes, lima beans, mushrooms, pecans, pumpkin seeds, soy lecithin, soybeans, sunflower seeds, torula yeast, and whole grains. Herbs that contain zinc are alfalfa, burdock root, cayenne, chamomile, chickweed, dandelion, eyebright, fennel seed, hops, milk thistle, mullein, parsley, rose hips, sage, sarsaparilla, skullcap, and wild yam. Oh what a lovely and L O N G list of herbs to choose from. We’ve got you covered on most of these herbs in our Supplement department and at the Tea Bar. Our AlkALIGN capsules contain a large amount of alfalfa blended with alkalizing herbs and fruits. As mentioned before, the #1 selling Seamoss is just a well-rounded supplement that contains both zinc & Vitamin B₁₂ with the combination of sea vegetables, rose hips, and more! Find parsley in our Elite Vitality blend capsules, made for prostate, fatigue, impotence, and more for men’s health! The signature Muspresso® is a coffee replacement that incorporate dandelion root and mushrooms amongst other herbs in order to correct digestive flow! Because the lack of zinc can lead to infertility, it is believed that the hormonal imbalance that occurs may also be a factor in developing fibroids and PCOS. Wild yam is one of the ingredients found in Yemoja’s Fibroid Kit. It contains a good amount of zinc, and is also good for gallbladder disorders, IBS.
believe it or not, our Detox Hydrotherapy treatment incorporates a blend of herbs that not only detoxes the body, but infuses it with a long list of herbs that include the mineral zinc. The herb blend for Detox/Cellulite Hydrotherapy include both burdock root and dandelion root for a kick of zinc and a detoxification that your body feels instantly.
Vitamin Infusion or IV Therapy
Although plant-based diets provide health benefits, it’s clear that is crucially important to keep your intake of nutrients at the proper levels to reduce the risk of health conditions associated with nutritional deficiencies.
However, though many people assume that not getting enough nutrients on a plant-based diet would be an issue, that is not necessarily the case. One way to get reliable sources of vitamins and minerals is through vitamin infusions.
Intravenous therapy or IV therapy is when a liquid solution is administered directly into your vein. With Vitamin infusions, this involves the direct infusion of hydrating fluids and high-dose vitamins directly into your bloodstream.
How Does Our Vitamin Infusion Work?
At each appointment, the treatment is customized to your needs by way of a lengthy intake form/consultation. The doctor who will go over your health history (within 24 hours of your scheduled appointment), determine if you are eligible for your desired infusion therapy, then writes orders for the Medical Staff to administer. Your doctor might also suggest you’re given other nutrients or herbal supplements, depending on the condition of your health. During your appointment the Medical staff administers a small thin tube to access your bloodstream, connecting an IV bag containing your chosen vitamins and minerals. This solution is drip fed into the small tube and then directly into your bloodstream. During your treatment, you will be given headphones that are streaming vibrational healing tones, while your eyes are covered with a Jade Mask. These additions to your normal IV Therapy boost the effects by helping to soothe and relax facial muscles, release toxins. encourage cell metabolism, improve blood circulation, and eliminate congestion and inflammation. The entire treatment typically takes approximately 45 minutes.
Your Lifestyle Creates Your Life
We are all for promoting any one of these options, but when you combine them in an effort to take charge of your individual health… you start down the path of creating a Lifestyle of Wellness. The goal is to wake up each day and just live, but the by-product of living naturally incorporates these healthy habits and self care rituals. Whether you indulge in an herb infused preserve from Blake Hill, or start a full moon bathing ritual that also infuses vital nutrients into the body… you understand that each detail creates your lifestyle. Starting in November Laya will begin offering IV Therapy Infusions. We are hosting a Pre-sale through 10/26 for 50% off our Tier 1 Infusion choices. Click the link below for more information.
