Why Nurture Isn’t Vegetarian or Vegan Friendly

We believe that mums-to-be deserve the best possible support for a healthy pregnancy. That’s why our prenatal supplements are carefully formulated to provide essential nutrients like DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which are critical for your baby’s development. But we understand that our supplement may not align with all dietary preferences, particularly for those who follow a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle.

We’re all for transparency, so want to share why our supplements aren’t vegan-friendly but why they might still be worth considering, even if you typically avoid animal-derived products. Pregnancy is a unique time, and only you know what’s right for you and your growing family, but we want to give you the information you need to make your choice with confidence. 

Why Our Supplement Isn’t Vegan or Vegetarian

DHA, a type of omega-3 fatty acid, plays a crucial role in the development of your baby’s brain, eyes and nervous system. Most DHA used in supplements comes from fish oil - a natural and rich source of this nutrient. While plant-based sources of omega-3s exist, they contain ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), a precursor to DHA. Unfortunately, the human body isn’t as efficient at converting ALA into DHA, which means achieving adequate DHA levels from plant-based sources alone can be challenging during pregnancy. 

We respect and appreciate the values that drive many people to adopt meat-free lifestyles, but our supplements are unsuitable for strict vegetarians or vegans. That’s because we include marine-derived DHA to help make sure you get optimal levels to support you and your baby.

Temporary Dietary Changes Are Okay During Pregnancy

We understand that for many vegan and vegetarian mums, pregnancy presents a unique challenge: balancing personal ethics with the health and wellbeing of their baby. The good news is that temporary dietary changes during pregnancy, such as introducing certain animal-derived nutrients like fish oil, aren’t just acceptable but beneficial.

Although waiting to meet your little one can sometimes feel long, pregnancy is a short period in your life - one in which your body has new and very specific nutritional needs. Choosing a supplement which provides the necessary nutrients in the most effective form can be a positive choice for your baby’s development, and one which many mums make.

Pescatarian Exceptions During Pregnancy

It’s not uncommon for vegans and vegetarians to make exceptions for fish or fish-derived products during pregnancy. That’s because pescatarian diets, which include fish but exclude other forms of meat, provide high levels of protein and omega-3. For some mums-to-be, this might be the one time in life when the benefits of fish-derived DHA outweigh personal dietary restrictions.

The Choice Is Yours

At Nurture, we respect your choices and want to be transparent about why our supplements aren’t vegetarian or vegan-friendly. DHA is essential for a healthy pregnancy, and marine sources are simply the most effective way for us to provide these nutrients to you and your growing baby.

Only you know what’s best for you. If you feel comfortable making a temporary change to your diet during pregnancy, our supplements can provide peace of mind that you’re supporting your baby’s development with the most bioavailable forms of this amazing nutrient.

But whatever you choose, we’re here to support you every step of the way - speak to a member of our expert team to chat more about your prenatal nutrient options as a mum-to-be with dietary restrictions. Or start your tailored Nurture journey today by taking our quick and easy food & lifestyle questionnaire.