Like many people, I never have enough hours in the day to get everything done: working, family, sleeping, shopping, cooking, eating, gym, dog-walking, gardening…need I go on? As a consequence, I frequently end up feeling a bit frazzled, particularly if cooking and eating are the things that get less focus than they should.
So, in an attempt to take a little more care of myself (and to remain sufficiently energised to keep all the plates spinning!) I decided to try a broad range supplement that would offer some support to my health and wellbeing.
Consequently, I turned to a brand that I already know and trust and along the way, discovered another reason to justify my confidence in them. Read my DR.VEGAN daily multi-vitamin review to find out how I have benefitted from taking this good quality supplement, as well as what I think they could still do better.
Pros
- independently analysed
- 24 nutrients
- effective
- natural & absorbable
- trustworthy brand
Cons
- big capsules
- high B12 level
- bit low in calcium
DR.VEGAN discount code: MUM30
My experience using this vegan supplement
Whilst I’m a huge advocate of a nutritious wholefood vegan diet for optimum health (combined with regular gym visits), cooking well-balanced meals from scratch can be the first thing to go by the wayside when I’m really busy. And that’s when I can start to feel distinctly ‘under par’, leaving me susceptible to more bugs, broken sleep, and feeling generally pretty demotivated.
And, after a prolonged busy and chaotic time earlier this year, I was feeling just that – like I was running on empty – and struggling to find the energy and motivation to take proper care of myself. A vicious circle!
So, when DR.VEGAN asked me to review their daily multi-vitamin, the timing was perfect and I was very happy to oblige. It’s a brand I have grown to trust over the years, having used other supplements in their range previously with positive results – see my HeartPro and Debloat & Detox reviews for more detail.
I started by taking the recommended dose of 2 (rather large) multi-vitamin capsules a day and about 6 weeks in got a sense that my energy levels and motivation were slowly returning. And as they did, I felt more inclined to get back to the gym and to take time to make healthier, home-cooked meals too.
Continuing with the 2 capsules for another month combined with a return to my healthier, wholefood vegan diet went on to make me feel so much better and in all honesty, it was quite a relief too. It helped me break out of that downward spiral.
Since then, I have reduced the dose to 1 capsule a day which reassures me that even if I’m not always eating 100% healthily, I’m still getting the nutrients I need at some level. And if I hit another low period, I’ll go right back to the recommended dose because I know it will help.
Let’s look in more detail at the benefits of DR.VEGAN’s daily multi-vitamin, but also what I personally think could be improved.
DR.VEGAN daily multi-vitamins are good for everyone!
As a vegan, I know that there a couple of specific nutrients that are difficult to get from my diet, including Vitamin B12 and Iodine (although they are often in fortified plant-based foods). But guess what? Many people who eat a non-vegan diet are short on these (and other) nutrients too, a fact established by an increasing number of respected studies both here and abroad.
And the great thing about this particular multi-vitamin is that, apart from containing 24 nutrients essential to your health and wellbeing, they are:
- highly bio-available
- free from additives
- natural
- ethical
- contain no dubious animal ingredients
But as well as being vegan, all their supplements are gluten-free, lactose-free, non-GMO, and are suitable too for halal and kosher diets.
I trust the brand
Because the dietary supplement industry is not regulated, it can be a leap of faith when it comes to deciding which brand to buy because it’s impossible for individuals to establish nutrient levels in the products without access to a laboratory.
So, you might ask what the benefits are of the DR.VEGAN range in particular and why you should trust them over another brand. Well, for me personally, I have had tangible and beneficial results from this and other products in their range as mentioned elsewhere.
But in addition, the independent consumer association – Which? – recently lab tested the nutritional claims of a number of brands’ supplements and the DR.VEGAN daily multi-vitamin achieved the highest score of all the products they tested. It was shown to contain high-quality nutrients in their most bio-available form meaning that they can be used effectively and efficiently by the body.
I personally didn’t need any further justification for buying these supplements, but if I had, that was it!
I feel more energetic and motivated
It didn’t happen overnight. In fact, it was a couple of months before I really felt markedly better and the effects were definitely gradual.
But I really had been at quite a low ebb: feeling tired, yet unable to sleep well, and suffering from a seemingly endless list of minor ailments. And my fatigue was so debilitating that I had virtually stopped going to the gym, rarely cooked properly and was getting quite grumpy into the bargain!
So, it’s quite likely that my iron, B12 and iodine levels were pretty low (amongst other things) and they probably took a while to build up again to the levels where they would help my energy levels. But once they did, that increased energy meant I became more motivated too and the spiral – thankfully – became an upward rather than a downward one!
What would I change?
Firstly, this ethical, planet-friendly supplement is pricier than some and you’ll pay from £48.15 for a 90 day supply (just over 50p per day). However, although I’d like them to be cheaper I do believe I’m paying for what might be the best quality multi-vitamin in the UK and I guess that comes at a price.
Secondly, I’m a bit unclear about a couple of the nutrient levels in this supplement:
- Vitamin B12 – why is it at such a high level? From what I understand, you simply ‘pee out’ the excess, so why put it in there in the first place?
- Calcium – present at only 8% of the daily recommended amount for an adult. That’s a shame for a mineral that many vegans find difficult to get in their diet.
And lastly, the size of the capsules is pretty big – the image above shows them compared to a £1 coin. That said, I actually find them quite easy to swallow. However, if you really can’t face that, you can open the capsules and sprinkle the contents on your breakfast or in a smoothie. I would assume though that you shouldn’t allow the powder to go in anything too hot in case it impacts the efficacy of the nutrients.
My verdict
It’s probably evident that I like this DR.VEGAN daily multi-vitamin very much and have experienced some genuine and tangible benefits from taking it regularly.
Yes, I find the low calcium level a bit disappointing, particularly as a post-menopausal woman trying to keep my bones strong. But, oh well, I’ll just keep eating the dried figs…and yes, the high Vitamin B12 level is a bit of a mystery to me too.
But overall, I would have no hesitation in recommending this product to others. Yes, it’s a little more expensive than some, but I happen to think it’s also a good quality, ethical supplement that can benefit my health and wellbeing, so perhaps that’s a small price to pay.
30% Discount code for DR.VEGAN: MUM30
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