Supplements and Exercise: What Vegans Need to Know

Why Supplements Matter for Vegan Active Lifestyles

Categories: Lifestyle

At Vegetology, we’re proud to support people who follow a vegan or plant-based lifestyle including those who train regularly. Combining an active routine with a plant-based diet is a powerful foundation for long-term health, but it also brings unique nutritional considerations. Muscle recovery, joint longevity, and bone strength all require specific nutrients that can take some extra planning to get from a Vegan diet.

In this guide, we at Vegetology explore how smart, targeted supplementation can support your active lifestyle and how our range of vegan-registered, independently tested formulas is designed to help you meet those demands with confidence.

Why Supplements Matter for Vegan Active Lifestyles

Training, whether strength, HIIT, cardio or endurance, increases your body’s need for key nutrients. Protein, amino acids, minerals, omega-3 fatty acids, and specific compounds for bone and joint health all play fundamental roles in recovery and performance.

Vegan diets naturally excel in areas like fibre, antioxidants and phytonutrients. But some nutrients are less abundant or less bioavailable from plant-only sources. These could include Vitamin B12, long-chain omega-3s (EPA & DHA), Vitamin D3, certain amino acids, and joint-support nutrients.

This is precisely where our work at Vegetology comes in. We specialise in vegan and vegetarian formulas that are rigorously tested and fully vegan-registered. Created with plant-based sourcing in mind and designed to help active individuals avoid common nutrient gaps without compromising their ethics.

Muscle Recovery: What to Focus On

Hard training creates micro-tears in muscle fibres and increases oxidative stress. Effective recovery relies on nutrients that support repair and adaptation.

Key nutrients for muscle recovery

Protein & amino acids
Especially BCAAs and leucine, which activate muscle protein synthesis.
Soy products, quinoa, hemp seeds and nuts are all great options.


Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA & DHA)

Help reduce inflammation, reduce soreness, and support faster muscle repair.
Consider seeds such as flax and chia, along with vegetables such as brussel sprouts and kale.


Vitamin D & calcium

Essential for muscle contractions, performance, and overall strength.
Some cereals, calcium-set tofu and leafy greens like kale and broccoli are great for this.


Antioxidants & phytonutrients

Help neutralise oxidative stress created during training.
This is a great excuse to treat yourself to some dark chocolate! Berries, beans and cruciferous vegetables are good options too.

How Vegetology supports muscle recovery

MultiVit: Our comprehensive formula with 26 vitamins & minerals plus superfood extracts, supporting energy metabolism, muscle function and overall recovery.

Omega-3(Algal EPA/DHA): Our algae-derived omega-3 provides the same EPA/DHA as fish oil, without the fish! It is ideal for active vegans wanting direct, highly bioavailable omega-3s.

Practical recovery tips

● Aim for 1.6–2.2 g/kg/day protein if strength training.

● Choose algae-based omega-3 rather than relying solely on ALA from nuts and seeds.

● Eat a balanced recovery meal 30–60 minutes post-training.

● If you live in low-sun regions (like the UK), consider supplementing Vegan Vitamin D3 from lichen, such as our Vegetology D3.

Bone & Joint Support: The Foundation of Longevity

Active lifestyles put constant stress on the skeletal system, especially runners, lifters, and those doing plyometric or high-impact work. Supporting bones and connective tissue helps prevent injuries and keeps training sustainable long-term.

Key nutrients for bones & joints

Calcium, Magnesium, Vitamin D3, Vitamin K2
Crucial for bone mineralisation and long-term strength.

Glucosamine & Chondroitin alternatives
Support cartilage health and joint comfort.

Collagen-related amino acids
Glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline help form strong connective tissues.

Omega-3 fatty acids
Reduce inflammation that can affect joints.

Vitamin C
Essential for collagen production.

Vegetology formulations for bones & joints

Bone Care
Features vegan glucosamine HCL, our plant-based Phytodroitin™, Calcium, Magnesium, Vitamins C, D3 & K2. It is a complete joint and bone complex specifically designed for vegans.

Vollagen®
Our vegan collagen-alternative complex, supplying the amino acids found naturally in collagen to support joints, tendons, ligaments, hair, skin and nails.

Practical joint-support tips

● If you train hard or feel joint strain, consider a dedicated joint/bone supplement such as Vegetology Bone Care.

● Combine resistance training with proper nutrition for optimal bone health.

● Prioritise mobility, stretching, and high-quality sleep to amplify recovery.

How Supplements Support an Active Vegan Lifestyle: The Big Picture

1. Filling nutrient gaps

A balanced Vegan diet can take planning and time. Our formulas are created to target precise needs using fully vegan sources. Helping you to avoid falling short on B12, D3, EPA/DHA or joint-specific nutrients without any prep!

2. Supporting adaptation and recovery

Omega-3s, vitamins, minerals and collagen-related amino acids help the body rebuild post-training and reduce downtime.

3. Protecting long-term joint and bone health

Active people often think short-term (today’s workout), but long-term skeletal health is essential. Our plant-based Bone Care and Vollagen® help support this.

4. Alignment with vegan ethics

Everything we produce is fully vegan-registered, no fish oils, no gelatine, no animal collagen, no hidden by-products.

5. Convenience and reliability

A high-quality multivitamin, plus targeted joint support and algal omega-3, offers a strong foundation for long-term performance.

A Sample Supplement Approach for Active Vegans

Daily

MultiVit (on alternating days)

Omega-3 (Algal EPA/DHA)

Vitamin D3 (from Lichen)

Training-Heavy Days

Bone Care (alternating with MultiVit)

Ensure sufficient protein intake (food + vegan protein powder if needed)

Lifestyle Basics

Whole-food-rich plant diet

7–9 hours sleep

Hydration & electrolytes

Strength + weight-bearing exercise

Daily Supplement Schedule for Active Vegans

*Alternating MultiVit and Bone Care to avoid nutrient overlap

Morning (with breakfast)

MultiVit - Vegetology MultiVit (Day 1, 3, 5, …)

Fills micronutrient gaps, supports energy, immunity & muscle function.

Use: 1 tablet on MultiVit days.

Vitamin D3 - Vegetology Vegan D3 from Lichen

Essential for bone strength, immune support and muscle performance.

Use: 1 capsule daily.

Omega-3 - Vegetology Algal Oil

Helps reduce inflammation, promotes recovery and joint health.

Use: 2 capsules daily.

Pre-Workout (30–60 minutes prior)

Optional vegan protein shake

Hydration + electrolytes

Post-Workout (within 30–60 minutes)

Protein + carbohydrate meal/shake

Vitamin-C-rich foods or optional Vitamin C supplement

Omega-3 (if not taken earlier)

Evening (with dinner)

Bone Care (Day 2, 4, 6, …)

Vegan glucosamine, Phytodroitin™, calcium, magnesium, vitamins C/D3/K2.

Use: 2 capsules

Vollagen® (optional)

Provides collagen-type amino acids for joints, tendons and ligaments.

Use: 2 capsules daily.

Daily supplement routine for Active Vegans

Time Vegetology Supplement Key Benefit Notes
Morning MultiVit General micronutrient coverage Alternate days to Bone Care
Morning Vitamin D3 Bone & muscle health Daily
Morning Omega-3 (Algal) Anti-inflammatory, joint support Daily
Post-Workout Protein + carbs Muscle recovery Daily
Post-Workout Omega-3 (Algal) Anti-inflammatory, joint support Daily instead of the morning if preferred
Post-Workout Vitamin C Essential for collagen production Daily or alternate days
Evening Bone Care Joint & bone support Alternate days to MultiVit
Evening Vollagen® Connective tissue support Optional daily

7‑Day Active Vegan Supplement & Workout Calendar

Day Morning Pre-Workout Post-Workout Evening Workout
Monday MultiVit + D3 + Omega-3 Protein shake Protein + carbs Magnesium + Vollagen® Strength (full body)
Tuesday D3 + Omega-3 Protein shake Protein + carbs Bone Care + Vollagen® HIIT / Cardio
Wednesday MultiVit + D3 + Omega-3 Protein shake Protein + carbs Magnesium + Vollagen® Strength (upper body)
Thursday D3 + Omega-3 + Active Energy Protein shake Protein + carbs Magnesium + Vollagen® Endurance / Running
Friday MultiVit + D3 + Omega-3 Protein shake Protein + carbs Magnesium + Vollagen® Strength (lower body)
Saturday D3 + Omega-3 Protein shake Protein + carbs Bone Care + Vollagen® Cardio / Mobility
Sunday D3 + Omega-3 + Active Energy Light protein Protein + carbs Magnesium + Vollagen® Active recovery

Final Thoughts From Vegetology

Being an active vegan is not only achievable, it’s powerful. But training increases nutrient demands, and a plant-based diet requires a bit more strategy to cover particular nutrients linked to muscle repair, joint health and long-term performance.

At Vegetology, our goal is to make that easy. Our vegan-registered supplements, from algal Omega-3 and lichen-based Vitamin D3 to Bone Care,MultiVit and our unique vegan collagen alternative, Vollagen®, are all designed to support your health, performance and ethical choices.

Supplements aren’t a replacement for good nutrition, training and recovery routines, but they are a valuable tool to help your body adapt, grow and perform for years to come.