Considering switching to a plant-based diet? The benefits of a well-planned vegetarian lifestyle can be numerous, ranging from the decreased chance of high blood pressure to better cardiovascular health, but there are also advantages to your physical appearance that you may not have considered. Let’s look at some of the potential benefits to your appearance if you change to a vegetarian lifestyle.

Skin benefits

One of the ways a vegetarian diet may improve your skin is that fruits and vegetables are higher in water content, which can help with hydration throughout the day. The role of water in the body is vital, and with appropriate hydration, skin is likely to appear plump, and collagen and elasticity are improved. Another added bonus to proper hydration is that skin is less likely to crack or have irritations. 

Free radicals which damage your skin in the long term can be reduced with a high antioxidant diet. Antioxidants potentially also decrease acne flareups. A typical vegetarian lifestyle is rich in a rainbow of vitamins and minerals, all of which have a direct effect on your health and appearance. A vegetarian diet is comprised of many antioxidant-rich foods, including beans, nuts, blueberries, and other brightly-colored fruits. 

To further improve the appearance of your skin without spending an excessive amount of time on it, you may want to invest in a routine for skin care for busy people.

Weight

If you’ve struggled with fad diets hoping to attain a bodyweight that you feel most comfortable in, a vegetarian lifestyle can be advantageous. Meat is calorically dense, while vegetables are notoriously less so. By replacing meat with vegetables and appropriately protein-packed foods, you may find yourself down a few pounds without even realizing it, all without sacrificing your energy levels. While weight does not intrinsically make you less or more attractive, how you feel in your own body reflects outward with either self-doubt or confidence. There’s nothing more attractive than someone who is confident in their own body. 

A recent study found that vegetarian diets are responsible for reducing body weight by nearly twice as much as a non-vegetarian alternative, so if you are looking to shed a few pounds without overthinking it, a well-balanced vegetarian diet may be an ideal option for you. 

A note on staying healthy

There are many other health aspects that a vegetarian diet may help to eliminate or treat. There is some evidence that a vegan or vegetarian diet can actually reduce the strength of your hair, but there is a caveat. Most times, when this happens, someone eating a vegetarian diet is simply not incorporating enough b-12 vitamins or appropriate levels of protein in their diet. Whenever you begin a new diet or change your lifestyle, it’s important to do research to make sure your body is well equipped with all the appropriate levels of vitamins and minerals it needs. 

If you are new to the vegetarian lifestyle and would like some recipes to get you started, check out some easy and delicious vegetarian recipes here.