ASK WH
What supps do you need if you’re going seagan?
Sea-what, now? The latest pick ’n’ mix plate consists of a vegan diet with a small amount of sustainably sourced seafood. ‘This may appeal to those who want to consume a mainly plant-based diet, without missing out on the nutritional benefits of fish – one of the few foods without a nutritionally similar plant-based equivalent,’ says registered dietitian Maeve Hanan (dieteticallyspeaking.com). For example, she notes that studies have found omega-3 – the brain-boosting fatty acid in oily fish and shellfish – to be less effective in supplement form compared with whole foods, while seafood such as cod and crab can provide iodine – essential for thyroid health and harder to come by on a vegan diet (Hanan points out that vegans should ensure their alt-milk is iodine-enriched). Seagans may be vulnerable to nutritional deficiencies – they should be sure to include vitamin B12, calcium, iron, zinc and selenium, as these are mostly found in meat and dairy. But with seagan sources available for all of these (such as fortified alt-milk for B12, tofu for calcium, leafy greens for iron, seafood for zinc and Brazil nuts for selenium), a well-balanced plate should stem the need for supps. Worried you might have a deficiency? Talk to your GP before raiding Boots.