More and more people are giving up meat and dairy for all manner of reasons, whether that’s ethical, environmental or health; in fact half a million have pledged to take the 31-day Veganuary challenge this year. A well-balanced vegan diet can have plenty of benefits and here I look at how it can also help boost your complexion

One of the benefits of a good – and I stress good – vegan diet is that it can boost your complexion because it encourages you to eat more fruits and vegetables which are high in antioxidants.

Meat can have a toxic effect on our skin, so ditching it – even for a couple of weeks – allows our bodies to detox in a healthy way. When we detox, changes take place in our skin: the jaw line becomes more defined as fluid is released; and the under-eye area becomes less swollen as the high salts in animal protein are no longer present to retain water.

If you’re not ready to give up meat entirely, you can instead omit diary – especially if you suffer from eczema or acne – to improve texture and tone. There are many plant-based alternatives readily available and almond milk, for example, is naturally free of cholesterol, lactose and saturated fat, while being rich in calcium and essential vitamins A, D and E.

However, you do need to be aware of the downsides when opting for a restrictive diet like veganism. Simply replacing meat with carbohydrates, bingeing on sugary snacks or eating the same processed meals day in day out and you’ll miss out on healthy nutrients and protein and this can have a negative affect the skin. A lack of iron and vitamin B12 can cause dark circles under eyes as well as brittle hair and nails.

Maybe try and go vegan for the rest of January, but promise yourself you’ll combine it with a healthy diet, exercise and an effective daily skincare regime and in a couple of weeks you’ll notice a healthier, brighter complexion and you may even lose a few pounds too. Win win!