Luis Cerna is a Washington native, and his vegan journey started behind bars in federal prison for drug-related offenses. As strange as it may sound, he says his incarceration taught him to reflect and grow his mental, physical, and spiritual health. The years of incarceration weren’t the only battle he endured. For someone who is serving a prison sentence, the surging stress levels can leave little to be positive for, and that takes a toll on your physical and mental health.

A vegan journey that’s more than diet

Luis took it upon himself to not let his sentence determine the rest of his life. He made significant lifestyle changes in a very vulnerable state and implemented greater changes when he regained freedom. He turned to veganism at the beginning of 2020. This was a New Year’s health resolution that stuck. He experienced health benefits like increased energy but found that veganism had a much greater impact on his life. He spends most of his days exercising, meditating, reading and enjoying time with his 11-year-old daughter, who he credits as his motivation for his change. 

Luis is thankful to spend more time with his family, and although they are not vegan, they are very supportive of his lifestyle change and even eat and prepare vegan dishes when he comes to visit. His absolute favorite dish is vegan fish tacos, and his go-to snack is cucumber with lemon and cayenne pepper. A simple and easy snack that we just can’t wait to try! He says that the hardest part about veganism is that, contrary to popular belief, there are actually very limited healthy vegan options available in dining restaurants. He tries to cook as much as he possibly can.

Luis says that “being vegan feels great,” especially when people ask him where he gets his high level of energy from.  He says it’s awesome knowing that his lifestyle change not only makes him feel amazing both physically and mentally but also helps give back to this planet. His biggest takeaway from his vegan journey so far is that “being vegan is  a way to give back to this planet and to yourself.”

A vegan journey through workouts, nutrition and supplements

A few common misconceptions about veganism that Luis would like to share with others are that you are unable to grow muscle mass on a vegan diet and that being vegan is expensive. In terms of growing muscle mass, Luis has been able to build muscle through daily workouts, proper nutrition and protein supplements. Luis began his vegan journey confined in prison, which is not the easiest place to begin your journey. Although Senate Bill 1138, passed in September of 2018, requires “licensed California health care facilities and state prisons to make available plant-based meal options containing no animal products or by-products,” living a vegan lifestyle in prison comes with challenges. However, for Luis, the vegan options available to him during his time of incarceration were sufficient. 

Luis’ vegan journey proves that anyone can be vegan and get the proper nutrients despite facing challenging circumstances. 

Vegan Life Nutrition is proud to be a part of so many vegan journeys.  We don’t sacrifice quality for innovation. Our products are always free of toxins, allergens, and unnecessary ingredients. How? We strictly examine raw ingredients and fully-vet each final product. Quality is our top consideration, and we adhere to the guidelines of some of the toughest regulatory authorities in the world.

Would you like to share your Vegan Journey with us?  Provide your contact information below, and we will reach out to you. 

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The post Breaking an Unhealthy Sentence: Luis Cerna’s Vegan Journey appeared first on Vegan Life Nutrition.

Pictured Above: Vegan Life Nutrition’s Vitamin D3 1,000 IU Gummies

Vitamin D3, also called the “sunshine vitamin,” is an essential nutrient for our bodies. 

Given its nickname, you probably heard growing up that the best way to get enough Vitamin D is to spend time in the sun. While it’s true that soaking up the rays can be an effective way for our bodies to absorb the vitamin, this is typically not enough for the average person to sustain sufficient levels of vitamin D. Researchers have actually found that over a billion people worldwide are vitamin D deficient, some more severely than others.

Here’s why vitamin D3 is essential for our bodies and how you can identify symptoms of vitamin D deficiency.

Why Is Vitamin D3 Important?

Vitamin D is a crucial element in our bodies’ absorption and regulation of the calcium and phosphate we consume from our diet. This absorption process promotes the circulation of vitamin D in our bloodstream and is responsible for delivering other essential health benefits in many areas of the body, including:

• Strengthens bones and muscles
• Promotes a healthy immune system
• Supports heart health
• Assists weight loss
• Improves mood

What Are Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency?

Possible symptoms of vitamin D deficiency include (but are not limited to):

• Depression
• Greater risk of infection
• Aching pain in bones, primarily those in legs and back
• Fatigue
• Bone-thinning diseases such as osteoporosis 
• Weight gain
• Hair loss

How Do I Make Sure I’m Getting Enough Vitamin D?

Here at Vegan Life Nutrition, we know how important it is for you to maintain your preferred diet while also getting the essential nutrients your body needs. We also know how important it is to be able to track the amount of vitamin D you are consuming on a regular basis.

That’s why we provide all-natural, vegan vitamin D3 supplements in the form of soft gel capsules,  gummies, as well as a spray that you can take directly, or add to your favorite drinks or meals.

Sourced from organic Lichen, our vitamin D3 helps boost the body’s first line of defense, particularly in children, older adults, and those with limited sun exposure.

Ready to find the 100% vegan vitamin D supplement that’s right for your lifestyle?

Vegan Life Nutrition offers a complete line of nutritional products for vegans and non-vegans alike, using nothing but the cleanest, highest quality plant-based ingredients to support your healthy lifestyle. Shop our complete line of products here.

The post Vitamin D Deficiency: Symptoms to Look For appeared first on Vegan Life Nutrition.

In the last few years, more and more people have reduced their meat and animal product consumption. Studies have found a

These “non-meat eaters” identify their dietary preferences in many ways—vegan, vegetarian, plant-based, etc. However, with this rise in popularity, more people have started using the terms “vegan” and “plant-based” interchangeably, when they are actually quite different.

What Does It Mean to Follow a Vegan Diet?

The term “vegan” describes individuals who have made the lifestyle choice to avoid using, consuming, and exploiting animal products as much as possible. This not only applies to their diet—vegans also avoid contributing economically to businesses who sell products made from or tested on animals, such as cosmetic and personal care brands, clothing, household items, medications, and more.

Since the inception of the term “vegan” in 1944, the movement has grown to include individuals who are not only passionate about the animal rights aspect of veganism, but also its impact on the environment. Research has shown that a vegan diet is more environmentally sustainable than a diet filled with animal products. Vegans also tout a vegan diet’s health benefits; vegans are at a reduced risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. 

What Does It Mean to Follow a Plant-Based Diet?

While plant-based individuals are similar to vegans in the sense that they avoid consuming animal products for various ethical purposes, being plant-based typically refers specifically to diet alone, leaving out the aspect of not purchasing products that may or may not have been derived from or tested on animals.

Another difference is that while vegans are very black-and-white about not consuming any animal products in their diet, there are many people who identify as “plant-based” because they eat a diet that mostly consists of plant foods, but may occasionally eat some meat, dairy, or other animal products. 

Are you looking for 100% vegan supplements to support your diet and lifestyle? 

Vegan Life Nutrition offers a complete line of nutritional products for vegans and non-vegans alike, using nothing but the cleanest, highest quality plant-based ingredients to support your healthy lifestyle. Shop our complete line of products here.

The post Vegan Diet vs. Plant-Based Diet: What’s the Difference? appeared first on Vegan Life Nutrition.

Nursing mothers, especially those following vegan and vegetarian diets, may find that they need to be strategic about what they eat to ensure that both they and their children are getting all of the nutrients they need. 

Here’s a list of 3 essential vitamins that breastfeeding vegan and vegetarian moms need that can be difficult to get from diet alone.

Calcium

One of the chief nutrients required in greater quantities through pregnancy and beyond is calcium. Pregnant and nursing mothers require 1,000 to 1,300 mg of calcium per day and can lose up to 5% of their bone mass while nursing. A quality, pregnancy-safe calcium supplement has the potential to help circumvent bone density loss and help rebuild bones faster after pregnancy, especially for vegan moms who may find it difficult to meet their calcium requirements through diet alone.

If your calcium supplement only contains calcium, it may not be working as well as you hope. The calcium you take does the most for your body when it’s able to work in conjunction with two other important nutrients: vitamin D3 and vitamin K2. 

Aside from being another essential nutrient for breastfeeding mothers (for reasons explained below), vitamin D3 helps encourage calcium uptake through the intestine so that more of the calcium you ingest is absorbed quicker. Vitamin K2 assists in the absorption process, directing ingested calcium away from the arteries and encouraging it to bind to the bones.

Vitamin D3

Studies have shown that if a breastfeeding woman is deficient in vitamin D, her baby will consequently be vitamin D deficient from the lack of the nutrient in her breast milk. 

It can be difficult to ensure that you are getting enough vitamin D from sunshine alone. When it comes to diet, vitamin D is mostly found in meat, dairy, and other animal products—which presents an obvious problem for vegetarian and vegan moms.

Vitamin D3 is an essential nutrient for both mother and baby, as it helps to:

• Strengthen the immune system
• Build and maintain strong bones
• Support calcium absorption

To ensure these moms are getting adequate amounts of vitamin D during pregnancy and nursing, they should consider taking a pregnancy-safe, vegan vitamin D3 supplement. 

Vitamin B12

Here are some of the benefits of consuming enough vitamin B12:

• Helps produce energy and combat fatigue
• Supports healthy regulation of the nervous system
• Helps maintain a strong digestive system
• Essential for healthy hair, skin, and nails

Unfortunately for vegetarian and vegan moms, Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that is primarily found in animal products. While you can sometimes find soy foods, certain meat substitutes, and brewer’s yeast to contain trace amounts of the vitamin, it’s common for vegan moms to take a vitamin B12 supplement while they are breastfeeding to ensure they are consuming enough each day.

Ready to find the perfect 100% vegan supplements for your lifestyle? Shop our complete line of products here.

Synergistically Vegan is an all-new plant-based combination of unique ingredients developed to give you the BEST calcium absorption possible. 100% vegan and safe for expectant and breastfeeding mothers, Synergistically Vegan may help prevent bone density loss that can occur during pregnancy. Learn more about this groundbreaking calcium supplement here.

The post 3 Essential Vitamins for Vegan Moms While Breastfeeding appeared first on Vegan Life Nutrition.