Beyond Bones: Surprising Benefits of Calcium and Vitamin D3

For those following a vegan lifestyle, calcium and vitamin D3 play an even bigger role — impacting everything from your immune system to your heart and even your mood. Let’s explore why these two nutrients are more powerful together, and why they’re especially important for plant-based eaters.

We’ve all heard about vitamin D and immunity — but recent research has taken that connection to the next level. Studies from the Universities of Surrey and Brighton found that vitamin D3 (not D2) helps kickstart your body’s first line of defense against infections.

Here’s how:

Vitamin D3 boosts the activity of something called the type I interferon system — a key part of the immune system that helps fight off viruses and bacteria before they take hold.

“We’ve shown that vitamin D3 appears to stimulate a key part of the immune system that helps defend against bacteria and viruses,” says Professor Colin Smith, lead author of the study.

For vegans, this is big news. Most traditional vitamin D supplements contain vitamin D2, which is plant-based but less effective. New vegan-friendly options made from lichen offer D3 — and that’s the form your immune system really loves.

D3 vs. D2: What’s the Difference?

• Vitamin D2 comes from plants and fungi — great for staying vegan, but not as effective in the body.
  
  

• Vitamin D3 is more potent and longer-lasting in your system. Until recently, it was mostly animal-derived, but now there are high-quality vegan D3 supplements made from lichen.
  
  

If you’re plant-based and aiming to support your immune health, switching to a vegan D3 supplement could make all the difference.

Calcium and vitamin D3 don’t just protect your bones — they’re also team players when it comes to cardiovascular health. That’s right — they can help support healthy blood pressure and circulation, too.

Blood Pressure Benefits

Some studies suggest that calcium, especially when taken with vitamin D, can help regulate blood pressure. The combo supports healthy blood vessel function and helps manage the system in your body that controls blood pressure levels.

Since vegans often already enjoy lower blood pressure thanks to a plant-based diet, keeping calcium and vitamin D3 levels topped up adds even more protection.

When taken together, calcium and vitamin D3 can:

• Improve artery flexibility
  
  

• Support better calcium balance in heart tissues
  
  

• Enhance overall circulatory function
  
  

Basically, they’re better together — like hummus and pita.

We’re learning more every year about how nutrients affect brain health, and vitamin D is right at the center of that research.

• Mood and Mental Health

Low vitamin D levels have been linked to mood issues like depression and seasonal affective disorder. That’s because vitamin D receptors are found in parts of the brain that regulate mood. For vegans who’ve been relying on less-effective D2, upgrading to D3 could have benefits beyond the physical.

• Cognitive Support

Both calcium and vitamin D help keep your brain functioning as you age — supporting nerve signals and brain cell communication. It’s another layer of protection alongside the natural benefits of a nutrient-dense vegan diet.

While plant-based diets are full of health perks, calcium and vitamin D3 can be harder to come by from food alone as they aren’t a sufficient enough source.

• Calcium: Found in leafy greens, tofu (with calcium sulfate), fortified plant milks — but absorption can vary.
  
  

• Vitamin D: Mostly missing in plant foods, unless you’re eating UV-exposed mushrooms (which only provide D2).
  
  

During the darker months or for those spending most of their time indoors, it’s especially hard to get enough vitamin D from sunlight alone.

Here’s what to look for:

• Vegan D3: Made from lichen (not lanolin from sheep’s wool).
  
  

• Well-absorbed calcium: Calcium carbonate is effective and best taken with food to support absorption and comfort.
  
  

• Combined formulas: A supplement that includes both D3 and calcium ensures they work together effectively.
  
  

New from Vegetology: Chewable Calcium + Vitamin D3

To make daily wellness even simpler, Vegetology has introduced a brand-new supplement:

Chewable Calcium + Vitamin D3 – with 400mg of calcium and 200 iu of vegan vitamin D3 in a single, convenient tablet.

It’s:

• 100% vegan (of course!)
  
  

• Easy to take — no swallowing big pills, simply chew
  
  

• Designed to support bone, immune, and cardiovascular health
  
  

• A perfect way to harness the power of this nutrient duo
  
  

Whether you're already supplementing or just getting started, this is a simple, tasty option that fits right into your daily routine. Calcium and vitamin D3 are way more than bone boosters. They’re key players in immune support, heart health, mood balance, and long-term wellbeing. Combining these two nutrients in supplement form is a smart, science-backed way to support your health — especially when dietary sources alone may fall short.

Think of it as an easy, effective way to take care of your whole body — not just your bones.