Do you know why your doctor (or parents) have always told you to eat your vegetables? It’s because fresh vegetables are one of the best sources of natural vitamins and trace minerals.
Trace minerals are inorganic substances such as calcium or various metals that our body needs to maintain its delicate chemical balance.
There are two main sources of trace minerals; plants and animals.
As vegans, the latter simply isn’t an option. Thankfully, plants are just as good of a source of trace minerals as animals AND they’re a lot healthier. Eating fresh veggies every day is a great way to ensure that your body’s getting all of the essential minerals it needs.
However, a plant-based trace mineral supplement is a great way to stay on top of your diet and make sure that you’re getting everything your body needs.
Plus, they can help you get in the habit of regularly consuming trace minerals so you never have to worry about deficiency.
In today’s post, I’m going to show you some of the best plant-based trace minerals and supplements on the market.
From capsules to water drops and even mysterious Shilajit Resin from the top of the Himalayan Mountains, I’ll show you some of the best that nature has to offer!
- Plant-based trace mineral liquid supplement
- Fulvic trace mineral liquid drops
What Makes Plant-Based Trace Minerals Different?
As omnivores, our body is capable of obtaining all of the vitamins and minerals it needs by consuming plants or meat. Vegans make a commitment to only consume plant-based food, as it’s cruelty-free, healthier for our bodies, and better for the planet.
Fun Fact: By switching to a vegan, plant-based diet each person can save over two hundred animals per year!
For example, let’s just say that you have an iron deficiency (commonly referred to as anemia). Many doctors and dieticians would recommend that you start eating more red meat, as it contains more red blood cells and is a great source of iron.
However, what non-vegan professionals won’t tell you is that chickpeas, lentils, kale, and cashews are also excellent sources of iron.
In fact, I’d argue that plants are actually a superior source of trace minerals. To give you a better understanding of why let me take a second to explain how our bodies absorb minerals…
Minerals (both macrominerals and trace minerals) are inorganic compounds that come from the soil or rocks. The plants that grow in soil or rocks filter and absorb these minerals as part of their life cycle.
Animals (particularly herbivores) eat large amounts of plants and vegetables, which is what makes meat a rich source of minerals.
If you get your minerals from meat, you’re actually getting them secondhand, though. They’ve already been digested and processed by the animal you’re eating.
By consuming raw plants yourself, you’re essentially “cutting out the middleman” and getting your trace minerals straight from the source – the earth.
Not to mention, you’re not killing any animals in the process (which is the most important part).
Plant-based trace mineral supplements are concentrated mineral supplements that are derived from 100% plant-based substances instead of animal by-products. They typically come in the form of a tablet, capsule, or a concentrated powder or liquid that you can mix with water.
Macrominerals vs. Trace Minerals
As you’re searching for the best plant-based trace mineral supplements, you’ll likely run across a number of supplements that also include “macrominerals.” So, what’s the difference between macrominerals and trace minerals?
Macrominerals are the primary minerals that our body needs to survive, such as calcium, sodium, phosphorus, and magnesium. Conversely, our body needs fewer amounts of trace minerals.
Both macrominerals and trace minerals are important for maintaining our body’s overall function, so it’s essential to note that trace minerals are just as important as macrominerals. You just don’t need as much of them as you do macrominerals.
The 9 Trace Minerals Your Body Needs
A good vegan trace mineral supplement should optimally include the nine most important trace minerals that your body needs. Here’s a helpful table to help you identify these minerals and more importantly, why they’re so important:
| Trace Mineral Type | Function & Importance |
| Copper | – Copper can help our body absorb the macromineral iron more efficiently. – Copper has been shown to kill cancer cells. – Copper can treat and prevent certain neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimers. |
| Chromium | – Chromium helps our body process carbohydrates. – Chromium can prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. – Chromium levels naturally decrease as we age, which means it’s especially important for middle-aged individuals to supplement. |
| Iodine | – Iodine supports proper brain function and health. – Iodine can help your body heal faster. – Healthy iodine levels are associated with a healthy immune system. – Iodine is essential for maintaining a healthy thyroid. |
| Fluoride | – Fluoride helps your teeth and skeletal system remain strong. |
| Iron | – Our body needs iron to create hemoglobin, which is the main protein in red blood cells. – Women typically need higher amounts of iron due to blood loss during menstruation. |
| Manganese | – Manganese helps your body absorb nutrients. – Manganese supports healthy brain function. – Manganese can help your body maintain proper blood sugar levels. |
| Molybdenum | – Molybdenum helps your body break down and process toxins. – Molybdenum helps regulate other mineral levels in your body, such as copper. |
| Selenium | – Selenium is essential and supports a healthy immune system. – Selenium can improve ovarian health and help maintain a healthy reproductive system. – Pregnant and breastfeeding women need slightly higher amounts of selenium per day. |
| Zinc | – Zinc supports a healthy immune system – Zinc promotes healthier, stronger hair, skin, and nails. – Zinc can reduce inflammation in the body. |
The Best Plant-Based Trace Minerals & Supplements 2022
So now that you have a better idea of what trace minerals are and why they’re so important for you, it’s time to show you the best plant-based trace minerals for vegans.
After several months of sampling and experimenting with different brands, I can verify that each of these supplements is an excellent source of vegan minerals.
Trace Mineral Type: Plant-based trace mineral capsules
Dr. Berg is one of the top-rated companies when it comes to vegan supplements. He’s a real doctor and dietician who’s known for his blog and occasionally showing up as a health consultant on news broadcasts.
Dr. Berg’s Trace Minerals Enhanced Complex is a complete mineral supplement that contains just over seventy plant-based minerals that your body needs. The main active minerals in this supplement are zinc, manganese, chromium, selenium, molybdenum, copper, iodine, and boron.
If you’re looking for a do-it-all supplement that has everything you need in a single capsule, then this is it.
Just take one capsule per day, and you’ll be good to go! Each bottle contains sixty capsules, so it’s a two-month supply for a single individual.
One of the coolest things about Dr. Berg’s Trace Mineral Enhanced Complex is that the minerals come from plant and silt deposits at the bottom of an ancient lake that dates back millions of years.
This product doesn’t contain any synthetically-derived minerals either. This is important because your body absorbs minerals more efficiently when they come from natural sources.
Last but not least, the company offers a thirty-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not satisfied with the product or your results, you can contact their customer support and receive a full refund. So you’ve really got nothing to lose!
This is the go-to everyday supplement that I’ve been using for the past few months and I firmly stand behind its results. Since I started taking my once-daily capsule, my energy levels have significantly improved and I’ve noticed that my fatigue and “brain fog” have significantly decreased.
Pros:
- Contains all nine essential trace minerals.
- It’s a complete supplement with over seventy plant-based minerals.
- It’s 100% natural and comes from plant deposits at the bottom of a lake.
- Doesn’t contain any synthetically-derived minerals.
- Each bottle contains sixty capsules, or a two-month supply for one person.
- There’s a thirty-day money-back guarantee for first-time buyers.
Cons:
- The capsules may be a bit too large for some.
Trace Mineral Type: Plant-based trace mineral liquid supplement
Tropical Oasis Premium Ionized Plant-Based Trace Minerals Liquid Formula is one of the better liquid trace mineral supplements on the market. Although I personally prefer the ease and simplicity of capsules, I did try this particular product for a few weeks and noticed some good results.
You may be wondering, “Why is it a liquid, and does that make it better?”
Well, it turns out that your body absorbs liquid minerals better than when they’re in capsule or tablet form. This makes sense because our bodies are 60% water, which is why we absorb liquid compounds so easily.
Instead of having to be broken down by our stomach, it can be absorbed through mucous membranes in our mouth and directly into our stomach lining. Capsules and tablets, on the other hand, require more effort and time to digest, which means that they don’t offer quite as much nutritional value.
Each serving contains seventy-four essential macro and trace minerals, so it’s a complete dietary supplement. Best of all, it’s 100% plant-based and contains no animal-derived minerals.
Simply take one tablespoon of this liquid supplement by itself, or mix it down with water or juice.
The main disadvantage of liquid trace mineral supplements is that they taste and smell awful. Like the capsules I mentioned above, this formula’s trace minerals are obtained from a prehistoric mineral deposit in Utah.
So essentially, you’re eating filtered dirt and mud. Capsules can help disguise the off-putting taste and flavor. Unfortunately, you experience all of this with the liquid. It is naturally flavored with a tropical juice flavoring, but the strong aftertaste is still there.
Pros:
- Your body absorbs liquid trace minerals more efficiently than encapsulated trace minerals.
- The trace minerals are naturally sourced from a prehistoric mineral deposit in Utah.
- Has a natural tropical juice flavor that slightly masks the bitter taste.
- Each bottle contains a month’s worth of servings for one person.
Cons:
- Despite the tropical flavoring, the mineral aftertaste can be a bit overpowering.
Trace Mineral Type: Fulvic trace mineral liquid drops
Fulvic trace minerals are minerals that are obtained from decomposing plants and organic matter in the soil. The most common fulvic trace minerals are magnesium, chloride, and potassium, and this product gets all of its trace minerals from an oceanic silt deposit.
Aside from the main three trace minerals present in this supplement, Peak Performance Ultra-High Purity Trace Mineral Liquid Drops include seventy-two other plant-derived trace minerals.
The mixture also consists of 12% natural fulvic acid, which is essential for balancing your body’s nutrient levels.
Like the Tropical Oasis liquid supplement I reviewed above, this product works on the science that your body absorbs minerals better when they come in a liquid form.
These drops are ultra-concentrated, so you’ll be getting a complete dose of every essential trace mineral that your body needs.
Admittedly, these trace mineral drops can be a bit strong. However, they’re not meant to be taken straight. Instead, they’re meant to be diluted in water.
Simply mix 40 drops (or 2.5ml) into a bottle of water or your favorite juice and you’ll get a complete daily serving.
One thing I really like about Peak Performance as a company is that they give back. For every bottle of vitamins or minerals that you buy from them, they donate a bottle of multivitamin supplements to children and communities at risk of malnourishment!
Pros:
- Complete plant-based trace mineral supplement with over seventy minerals.
- Contains fulvic acid.
- Easily mixes down with water or juice.
- For every purchase, Peak Performance donates a bottle of vitamins to malnourished communities.
- No artificial ingredients or preservatives.
- The liquid drops are easily absorbed by your body.
Cons:
- Since it’s an ultra-concentrated blend, the smell and taste can be a bit overpowering for some.
Trace Mineral Type: All-natural shilajit resin from mountain rocks
Long before humans started filtering and encapsulating trace minerals, mountain dwellers in the Himalayas knew one of the best sources of essential minerals – shilajit resin!
Shilajit is basically “mineral pitch,” and is somewhat similar to the petroleum we find underground. It’s found at high altitudes and is excreted from mountain rocks.
It’s the result of hundreds of years of organic plant matter breaking down. In its most natural form, it’s a dark blackish-brown paste with a tar-like consistency.
Cymbiotika’s Shilajit Resin comes from the Siberian Altai Mountains. It’s harvested at high altitudes, where the resin is ultra-pure and contains a high concentration of plant-based trace minerals.
A single serving of this black tar contains over eighty different trace minerals as well as a healthy portion of fulvic and humic acid, which are essential for hormonal balance in both men and women. It also contains a small amount of elemental gold, which has been proven to improve joint health.
How does it taste?
Well… kind of like cow urine. It’s a natural resin that’s the result of decay, so don’t expect it to taste any better than eating a handful of old compost. That being said, it’s incredibly pure, 100% organic, and is one of the best ways to absorb nutrients.
The traditional way of consuming shilajit resin is to mix it down with hot water to make tea. If the flavor is still an issue, then I suggest mixing in a bit of vegan-friendly agave syrup to give it a slightly sweeter flavor profile.
To learn more about shilajit and why it’s such an incredible supplement, check out this video:
Pros:
- Contains nearly 80% of the essential minerals that our body needs.
- Harvested from high in the Siberian mountains.
- 100% organic and all-natural resin, with no added sugar or flavors.
- A rich source of humic and fulvic acid.
Cons:
- Smells and tastes awful by itself.
Trace Mineral Type: Wheatgrass superfood powder with plant-based trace minerals
This is the second time Dr. Berg’s products have made it on this list (and for good reason). Dr. Berg’s Wheatgrass Superfood Powder is made from freeze-dried, dehydrated wheatgrass juice, so it’s as all-natural as it gets.
The company’s freeze-drying method is supposedly superior to other forms of juice extraction as it preserves more of the natural vitamins and minerals.
Wheatgrass is a superfood that contains many of the vitamins and minerals that our body needs. However, this isn’t just a wheatgrass supplement.
It also contains added minerals obtained from a natural silt bed in the Utah wilderness, which makes for a more fortified product.
It has a lemon flavor with a little bit of stevia plant extract used as a sweetener. While it tastes okay with water, I far prefer mixing it down with some juice or in a smoothie.
Pros:
- Each serving contains the equivalent of seven shots of wheatgrass juice.
- Fortified with minerals from a prehistoric Utah silt bed.
- Contains added lemon flavor and stevia sweetener, which makes it taste a bit better.
Cons:
- The powder can become hard and clumped if exposed to moisture or humidity.
Conclusion – What’s The Best Plant-Based Trace Mineral Supplement?
In my opinion, the best plant-based trace mineral supplements are those that are meant to be mixed or consumed as a liquid, such as the shilajit resin or wheatgrass powder.
However, the strong smell and taste of these more “natural” supplements can be a bit overwhelming for some.
Ultimately, I’ve found that it’s easier to remain consistent by taking Dr. Berg’s Trace Mineral Capsules. I just take one every morning before breakfast and I’m good to go.
So, if you’re not used to taking bitter-tasting supplements, I’d definitely suggest the capsules or water droplets.
One of the best ways to ensure you’re getting enough trace minerals is to eat whole, uncooked fruits and vegetables! To learn more about the raw vegan diet, keep on reading here.
