Are plant-based eaters more susceptible to nutrient deficiencies than others?

It's one of the most common questions we receive, and the underlying problem that lead Matt and Matt to create Complement — the first multivitamin engineers specifically for plant-based eaters.

To help us break down this common question, we asked our Chief Science Officer, Dr. Joel Kahn, MD, what you can do to ensure your nutrition is optimized for short- and long-term health.

Watch his response here:

According to Dr. Kahn, yes, plant-based eaters do risk certain nutrient deficiencies...

But so does everyone else. Every diet has its weak spots, and thankfully for plant-centered eaters, there aren't very many.

Plants are the most nutrient-dense foods available, meaning there are just a handful of hard-to-get vitamins and minerals to monitor — like vitamins B12 and D3, DHA/EPA omega-3s, iodine, and zinc, among others.

So what can you do to prevent deficiencies in your diet?

Dr. Kahn suggests you start by eating a diet rich in whole fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes.

Then for the nutrients not abundantly found in plants, complement your diet with a multivitamin engineered for plant-based eaters, like Complement Plus.