Reason #1 — Youthful Skin
When you think of youthful looking skin, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind? Firm, wrinkle-free and radiant skin typically tops my list. Some foods naturally boost your collagen production or at the very least, protect your existing collagen. Collagen is responsible for maintaining your skin’s elasticity and foods high in Vitamin C are great for this.
Some of the more obvious Vitamin C-rich foods fall into the citrus fruit category, but you might be surprised to find that chilies and potatoes are also great sources. Cooking can diminish the vitamins in these foods so it’s better to eat them raw for maximum benefits. Lysine-rich foods are also great collagen stimulators and found in many vegan staples like beans, lentils, nuts and peas. So eat them up, ladies!
Reason #2 — Glowing Skin
We all know the dangers of tanning; sun spots, degenerated elasticity, skin damage and potentially skin cancer. So why would you tan when you could eat your way to glowing skin instead?
A vegan diet is rich in beta-carotenes; the orangey goodness found in foods like apricots, carrots, mangoes and the earthy greens of kale and spinach. Beta-carotene is one Mother Nature’s organic pigments. For us more fair-skinned lassies, the effects will be much more noticeable but that coveted glow will be noticed by all.
Reason #3 — Moisturized Skin
Nuts, seeds and soybeans, oh my! We vegans don’t get our Omega-3’s from fish oils like most people. Instead, we get creative and stock up on those essential fatty acids (EFAs) by sprinkling our salads and casseroles with nuts and seeds. Using oils from flaxseed and walnuts doesn’t hurt either. These EFAs help retain moisture in the skin while combating the damage caused by free radicals.
For some of you, making the change to vegan may be easier said than done but the benefits are worth it. Cutting out foods full of drugs and hormones and saturated fats will be your best move yet.
To kick you off in the right direction, here’s one of my favorite vegan meals that is full of all the foods that will have you looking youthful and radiant in no time!
Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing
Dressing:
· 1 tablespoon Tahini paste
· ½ tablespoon Dates or Date Syrup
· ½ tablespoon Lemon
Salad:
· 2 cups chopped Kale
· 1 cup Black Beans
· 1/2 cup chopped carrots, red pepper and cucumber