According to holistic nutritionist Susan Tucker MD, the founder of Green Beat Life, the higher amounts of minerals, antioxidants, and fiber included in plant-based diets help detoxify and lead to clearer skin. Plant-based diets can lead to the clearing of common skin problems like eczema and acne.
Beyond just helping with stubborn pimples, going vegan can also improve your complexion, said Sarkar. Because a vegan diet typically requires that you eat vegetables and fruits rather than dairy, meat, and (most) processed snacks, the natural antioxidants can impact the way your skin, she said.
Those who advocate against too much meat, or any animal-based foods in general, point to hormones that can encourage excess sebum production and cell turnover, which can cause problems from buildup throughout the body, including the skin, like causing acne or irritating other existing skin conditions like eczema or ...
Dr. Ellis Hunnes says cutting out meat may actually cause acne and other skin problems to worsen at first while your body adjusts to your new way of eating and your hormones begin to self-regulate. The key, she suggests, is to be patient and allow your body a grace period.
Your blood cholesterol levels will plummet.
Studies consistently show that when people go plant based, their blood cholesterol levels drop by up to 35% . In many cases, the decrease is equal to that seen with drug therapy—with many positive side effects!
In the book, Breaking the Food Seduction, Dr. Neal Barnard argues that it takes three weeks to stop craving foods like meat or cheese. 21 days has been viewed as the length of time needed to make, or break, habits for a long time, since Psycho-Cybernetics was published in 1960 in fact.
Many people on a plant-based diet notice improved complexions, skin healing and moisturisation, which not only helps you to look younger but feel good about it too. Just because a diet is vegan is doesn't automatically make it healthy. It does take some commitment and planning to follow a healthy plant based diet.
Simply, vegan face is a name for a slack, wasted look that is caused by an absence of protein in your diet. The skin is dry, sallow and flaky. Protein literally props up the face: it makes it look plump (in a good way) and fresh-faced and wakeful.
Your skin will brighten up.
Eating more fruits and vegetables means you'll be consuming more vitamin C and water, which collagen needs to improve skin elasticity, Auslander says.
Going vegan can also improve your skin complexion. Cutting down on processed meat means less intake of saturated fats and sugar. A vegan diet is rich in anti-inflammatory food, which boosts skin radiance, improves hydration and plumpness.
And people who don't eat meat, called vegetarians, generally eat fewer calories and less fat. They also tend to weigh less. And they have a lower risk of heart disease than nonvegetarians do. Research shows that people who eat red meat are at a higher risk of death from heart disease, stroke or diabetes.
Energy Loss. You may feel tired and weak if you cut meat out of your diet. That's because you're missing an important source of protein and iron, both of which give you energy. The body absorbs more iron from meat than other foods, but it's not your only choice.
The reality is that you won't look like you're 25 forever – no matter how “clean” or “healthy” or your diet might be. While there are a variety of health benefits associated with following a vegan diet, eating a vegan diet won't make you age faster or slower in and of itself.
"Many vegan alternatives (quinoa, beans, and lentils) actually contain more grams of carbohydrates than they do protein," said Hyman. Consuming more calories than your body can use, whether it comes from carbohydrates, protein, or fat, results in weight gain over time, she suggested.
Do vegans look younger? In general, vegans do not look any younger than people who choose to eat meat and dairy products, though many do live longer, healthier lives. Still, the effects of aging are not only determined by what we eat.
A vegan diet does not automatically mean that you will age faster or slower than anyone else. A balanced plant-based diet is however protective against premature ageing. Plant foods have a beneficial influence on the main processes that promote ageing; oxidation, inflammation and glycation.
A vegan diet is rich in nutrient antioxidants, vitamins and minerals which have been known to benefit the quality of the skin. Vitamin C stimulates collagen production, while vitamin A is important for developing and maintaining skin cells. Vitamin E can slow ageing and diminish the appearance of scars.
Unfortunately for those of us who follow vegetarian diets, there are no vegetarian sources of collagen protein. Collagen supplements come in two forms; either marine collagen, sourced from fish scales and skin, or bovine collagen, made from cow hide.
If you avoid eating meat for a month, you should notice a decrease in your overall inflammatory markers. This happens due to the anti-inflammatory properties of plant-based foods that you consume instead of meat (5). They are rich in fiber and antioxidants and low in toxins and saturated fats.
Con: You may have possible nutrient deficiencies.
Some essential nutrients, such as vitamins B12 and D, calcium and iron, aren't available in many plant-based foods. Vegetarian diets may provide these nutrients as long as food intake is planned properly, but supplementation is sometimes necessary.
Lower risk of serious diseases
Starting a vegetarian diet can lower your risk of developing serious chronic diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. Focusing on healthy, whole foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains is a great way to take your health into your own hands.