You're Not Bad Looking, You Just Don't Eat Well.

Forget the expensive face creams, the youtube make up tutorials, the botox, the fillers. The healthiest looking people you know have a great diet. Here’s why they look so fresh all the time.

Now, as the weeks turn into months, then the months become years, it is becoming fairly indisputable that a plant-based diet is clearly the right way to go. Morally, environmentally, physically, mentally and spiritually. As more and more high profile celebrities are turning vegan, and a plethora of world class athletes openly attribute their career best performances to their recent move to a plant based diet, it seems that the penny has finally dropped.

Not only do we not need meat and other animal products in our diet, but without it we can actually thrive like never before.

Now we all know that high quality diets , particularly those that contain lots of complete protein, mineral rich green leafy vegetables, and good quality water and are associated with healthy bodies and healthy minds. However, for some people, the physical appearance is the most important and often only focus, which, in our social media obsessed age of follows, likes and stories, the focus on the surface is somewhat understandable. So, although the expected narrative should be ‘appearance doesn’t matter, whats on the inside matters’. I think ultimately appearance does matter, because in its purest form, how you look externally is indicative of whats on the inside, your ‘internal health’. In addition to the above, using make up, expensive face creams (boys, this includes you too), cosmetic surgery and various things that make you ‘appear’ to look radiant and healthy are a poor and expensive substitute for the real deal. 

So, lets talk now about how to get glowing skin, bright clear eyes and healthy strong hair and nails.

Off the top, I want to ask you a basic question. What is one of the main differences between a plant-based diet and an animal-based diet? 

An animal-based diet is very high on protein and fat. A plant-based diet, on the other hand, is packed full of phytonutrients, plus a wide range of vitamins and minerals. With a plant-based diet, you’ll get more vitamins, more minerals, and more healthy nutrients, then when you purely stock your body up on protein and fat. You’ve heard of the carnivore diet right? Joe Rogan? He isn’t exactly a picture of health is he, he always looks red, swollen and prematurely aged. In his younger days, he was very good looking so we can’t say he doesn’t have good genetics. The degradation of his looks, the blotchy skin, the body bloating and constant red skin colour I believe is due to excessive meat consumption and the male equivalent of cosmetic surgery, TRT (testosterone replacement treatment). Compare Joe to Joe just a decade ago, or compare Joe to the average American his age and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

The good news is, a lot of the damage is partially reversible but better to start early than late. A great example of this is Arnold Shwarzenneger, someone who has definitely utilised some TRT and used to be a heavy meat eater. If we look at Arnold now 71 years old and admittedly mostly Vegan, compared to meat eating, TRT using Arnold from just 10 years ago around the time of his heart replacement I personally think that now, he looks healthy and vibrant.

A healthy whole foods plant-based diet will provide your body with more vitamin A, vitamin C, biotin, zinc, magnesium, Selenium, manganese, antioxidants, and vitamin E — all the things that your skin needs to stay healthy (don’t forget good quality mineral water). These minerals will also help grow stronger hair and nails, keep body inflammation down in places where you do not want inflammation (think joints, muscles and your brain).

Get lots of antioxidants

Antioxidants are especially important for your skin health. So, you should stock your body up on them to boost the benefits of a plant-based diet and get awesome glowing skin! As we already said numerous times, plant-based foods are the number one source of antioxidants. Let’s take a look at some of the main antioxidants that can be beneficial for your skin, hair and nails, and in which foods to find them.

· Vitamin A: Orange and yellow coloured vegetables & fruit (carrots and sweet potato), as well as dark green coloured leafy vegetables (spinach, kale and broccoli).

· Vitamin C: Most fruits and vegetables, especially berries, oranges, and bell peppers

· Vitamin E: Nuts and seeds, sunflower and other vegetable oils, and green, leafy vegetables

· Beta-carotene: Brightly coloured fruits and vegetables, such as carrots, peas, spinach, and mangoes

· Lycopene: Pink and red fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes and watermelon

· Lutein: Green, leafy vegetables, corn, papaya, and oranges

· Selenium: Rice, corn, wheat, and other whole grains, as well as nuts, eggs, cheese, and legumes

Get your fill of protein

As stated previously, a plant-based diet is not as protein packed as an animal-based diet is. For some people, this is just fine, as you don’t actually need all the protein you get from an animal-based diet to be healthy. However, if you exercise regularly and would want to build some muscle mass, it might be a good idea to stock up on protein. You can do this multiple way, including increasing sources of plant-based proteins in your diet using whole foods that are hiugh in complete protein such as amaranth grain, wheat protein and legumes, beans and nuts. However, this will require you to eat large amounts of food, which becomes unpractical if you have a busy lifestyle. So one thing I can recommend is: Supplement it! Supplements are exactly what the name suggests. they are for ‘supplementing’ your existing diet with protein, vitamins and minerals. Supplements should not be your only source of protein, vitamins and minerals, this would be a mistake. One that too many people make, don’t be that person!

There’s a wide array of plant-based protein supplements out there. Check out my own personal brand of advanced plant based protein and superfood supplements naturally crafted and free from nasty chemicals, fillers and binders. I spent about 1 year formulating our first product, ‘Honest Earth Performance Protein’ because I was designing it for myself to use, as well as to be the first plant based protein shake that doesn’t taste like dirt or sand mixed with water! 

My Plant Based Performance Protein has less than 10 ingredients. We use a high quality blend of golden yellow pea protein grown in the pristine Canadian grasslands, combined with Digestive Enzymes, Bio Perine and Curcuminoids to maximise muscle synthesis, absorption and recovery. Our pea protein is soaked, sprouted and activated to maintain its purity & efficacy.

Vanilla Coconut Ingredients: Pea Protein Isolate, Natural Flavourings, HydroCurc™ Curcuma Longa Extract (85% Curcuminoids), DigeZyme® Digestive Enzymes (Amylase, Protease, Lactase, Lipase, Cellulase), BioPerine® Black Pepper Extract, Natural Sweetener (Thaumatin)

Super Cacao Ingredients: Pea Protein Isolate, Organic Coconut Sugar, Fat-Reduced Cocoa Powder, Organic Cacao Powder, HydroCurc™ Curcuma Longa Extract (85% Curcuminoids), DigeZyme® Digestive Enzymes, (Amylase, Protease, Lactase, Lipase, Cellulase), BioPerine® Black Pepper Extract

You can buy it on Amazon U.S, or directly from us at our online shop thehonestearth.com

Ok lets get back to it!

Anti-inflammatory foods help appearance too!

Inflammation causes a lot of issues in the body, including acne due to the various hormones (natural and injected) that are present in the processed animal flesh that people eat. Meat and dairy are common causes of inflammation (not just in your body, but in your brain too); so by cutting them out of your diet you’re immediately making an improvement in your life that will positively affect your overall wellbeing through the way you look and feel. While removing sources of inflammation in your diet, you can also add a variety of plant based anti-inflammatory foods, that can help negate the effects of chronic inflammation to your skin and body. These foods include: turmeric, tomatoes, olive oil, green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, kale, and collards, nuts like almonds and walnuts, fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and oranges. Citrus fruits are especially good for this.

Foods good for skin health

There are also lots of foods that contain many chemicals in small amounts which when present in the diet for a longer time, can build up and have a beneficial effect on the skin. Including these into your diet can boost your skin health even further as well as contribute to healthy hair and nails. Here’s a list of foods containing various chemicals and components that can have a beneficial effect on your skin:

· Turmeric: Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory, turmeric is great in soups and dips

· Chia/Flaxseeds: High in omega-3 fatty acids to help promote healthy cells

· Berries: Blueberries and the like are high in antioxidants to help repair damaged cells

· Pineapple: Also, papayas and kiwis, are high in an enzyme called bromelain (an extract from the stems of pineapples) that helps to reduce inflammation

· Healthy oils: Introduce healthy fats into your diet with cold-pressed oils, such as avocado, macadamia, and coconut oils that are full of polyphenols to soothe the skin

· Green tea: Sub out coffee (and sugar and cream) with antioxidant-rich green tea and make it easier to get your daily water intake

Get enough water

I’ve mentioned this throughout various writings, and I will mention it again, proper hydration is absolutely key! In addition to everything else dehydration does to your mind and body, it also dries out your skin, making it crackly and saggy. So, get your fill of water to stay supple and glowing!

Exercise

Of course, it not all about nutrition. Good looks are half proper nutrition, half physical exercise and good sleep, and no superfood or diet is going to change that. Exercise plans for people who are on a plant-based diet are a special topic in themselves, and I will make sure to cover it at some point. For now, let’s just say that you should select an exercise plan, whether it be more cardio, strength or endurance oriented, and stick to it! Consistency counts over intensity.

Wishing You Wellness!

Aaron

Aaron is the founder of www.thehonestearth.com To lead a quality life, one must be nourished with quality. We make the best plant based protein powders & superfood supplements with sustainable ingredients from around the world.