Vitamins D and B12 |
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Vitamin D and vitamin B 12 are
also two vitamins that can easily be lacking in vegetarian diets.
Vitamin D is important in calcium absorption and for bone health.
Vitamin B 12 is important in growth, maintaining nerve
tissue, and keeping blood healthy. A deficiency of vitamin D can
result in poor bone growth, whereas lack of vitamin B 12
can lead to anemia and, over the long term, possibly to nerve damage. Vitamin D can be obtained, though, by exposure to the sun. When the sun shines on the skin, a provitamin is formed in the skin that the liver and kidneys then make/into vitamin D. For those who do not spend a great deal of time in the sun, this vitamin can be obtained from fortified soy milk and from fortified cereals. Vitamin B 12 can also be found in fortified soy milk and cereals. In some cases, for strict vegetarians and those with concerns about their diet and low intake of certain vitamins and minerals, a vitamin-mineral supplement may be warranted. If you choose to seek a dietary supplement to help meet your particular nutrient needs, seek a product that contains no more than 100 percent of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). Remember supplements can help meet nutrient needs, but they are no substitute for a healthy well-balanced intake of foods. |
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