Vegetarian Vitamin D supplements are sourced from Sheep

'Vegetarian' Vitamin D supplements are sourced from Sheep

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    Many consumers and prescribers are unaware that cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) commonly found in health supplements and marketed as 'vegetarian' is typically derived from fish oils and from lanolin obtained from sheep's wool. Vitamin D3 is more effective at boosting serum vitamin D levels than the usual plant sources of vitamin D such as ergocalciferol (known as Vitamin D2).

    Whether you are on a plant-based diet or looking to live an ethically responsible lifestyle, neither of these two options really offer a solution. Lanolin, far from being a natural pure option, will likely have been contaminated by sheep dip or insecticide at some point.

    IMUNI Immune Defence contains a specialised vegan-friendly Vitamin D3 formula which is proudly obtained from lichens - an animal-free, sustainable, eco-friendly, cleaner source.

    Fact: lichens comprise a fungus living in a symbiotic relationship with an algae or cyanobacterium (or both).

    Source:

    Nowson, C., & Mason, R. (2013). Vitamin D and health in adults in Australia and New Zealand. Medical Journal of Australia, 199(6), 394-394.

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    What It Actually Does

    Ashwagandha is classified as an adaptogen - a substance that helps the body adapt to physical and psychological stress. But that description undersells the specificity of the evidence.

    In peer-reviewed clinical trials, ashwagandha root extract has been shown to:

    01

    Reduce serum cortisol levels significantly in adults under chronic stress

    02

    Support testosterone levels and muscle recovery in resistance-trained adults

    03

    Improve subjective measures of stress, anxiety, and wellbeing

    04

    Improve subjective measures of stress, anxiety, and wellbeing

    05

    Improve sleep quality and reduce time to sleep onset

    Why The Form Matters

    Here is where most supplement labels become misleading.
    The clinical trials that produced the evidence above didn't use generic ashwagandha root powder. They used standardised, patented extracts - specifically KSM-66® and Sensoril®, both of which are produced from roots using proprietary extraction methods that concentrate the active withanolides to a consistent, clinically meaningful level.
    Generic ashwagandha powder can contain anywhere from 1% to 8% withanolides. KSM-66® is standardised to a minimum of 5% withanolides with a full-spectrum root extract, which means it retains the natural balance of the plant's compounds rather than isolating one component.
    When you buy a supplement that says "ashwagandha" without specifying the extract form, you have no way of knowing whether it contains enough active compounds to do anything at all.
    At Arise, we use KSM-66® in every formula that contains ashwagandha. It's more expensive. It's worth it.

    Third-party Testing

    Supplements are not regulated the same way pharmaceuticals are. In most markets, a supplement company can put almost anything in a capsule and make almost any claim about it, as long as they don't claim to treat a specific disease.
    This is why third-party testing matters. It means an independent laboratory - one with no financial relationship to the supplement company - has tested the product to verify that:

    1. The ingredients listed are actually present
    2. They're present at the stated concentrations
    3. The product doesn't contain contaminants, heavy metals, or undisclosed substances

    Look for: NSF Certified for Sport, Informed Sport, or USP Verified certification on any supplement you take. These are the most rigorous third-party standards available.
    Every Arise formula is third-party tested before it reaches you. The results are available on request.

    The Honest Bottom Line

    Ashwagandha works. The evidence is genuinely strong. But the quality of the extract determines the quality of the outcome — and most of what's available on the market doesn't use the forms that the clinical research actually studied.
    Read the label. Ask for the extract form. Expect a specific answer.