As the meteorological start to spring in the Northern Hemisphere, the month of March is known for coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb. But March has another singular distinction: It is recognized as National Nutrition Month in the United States.
This year’s theme is “Eat Right, Bite by Bite.” The focus is on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical-activity habits.
At Starling, we believe beauty, glowing skin and wellness start with the gut, including a diet of plentiful, plant-based foods.
Let’s start with the benefits of a plant-based diet. The MD Anderson Cancer Center says it is the one diet that is consistently proven (over more than two decades) to reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other illnesses.
What are the other benefits of a plant-based diet?
- It supports and strengthens your immune system, by offering vitamins, phyto-chemicals, and antioxidants.
- It is intrinsically low in fat and thus helps you maintain a healthy weight.
- Plants are high in fiber, which makes for a healthier gut. Digestive health allows you to better absorb nutrients — in other words, more vitamins and minerals are readily absorbed and utilized.
- High antioxidant levels reduce inflammation by combating and eliminating c-reactive proteins (CRP).
Having sustained inflammation is risky for your overall health. It can damage your body's cells and tissues and has been linked to cancer and other inflammatory diseases (like arthritis). Eating a plant-based diet may offer protection because it removes some of the triggers for these diseases. The same tiny phyto-chemicals and antioxidants that boost your immune system also neutralize toxins from pollution, processed food, bacteria, viruses, and more. Antioxidants in plants act like a sponge and collect the free radicals that can throw your body off balance.
How do you get started on a planet-based diet?
Unless you are superhuman, it’s hard to cut all gluten, sugar, dairy, and meats right away. One suggestion is to start by eating plant-based meals twice a day (breakfast and lunch are easier) and then eat what you want for dinner. It’s a small step that can make a difference by reducing inflammation and promoting heart health.
So how does eating a plant-based diet relate to skincare, you might ask?
Well, a plant-based skincare routine offers benefits similar to those of a plant-based diet. It works to restore and strengthen your body's skin cells by combating free radicals. And starting a plant-based skincare routine is not nearly as hard as beginning a plant-based diet.
Starling's plant-based product line is made from fresh, highly concentrated, natural ingredients that are full of antioxidants and promote healthy skin. Made with foods that are good for your skin. Our Blueberry Seed, Raspberry Seed and Pomegranate Seed oils promote cell repair and can help decrease signs of aging. They also act to brighten and strengthen your skin.
Plant-based super ingredients such as Carrot Seed, Pumpkin Seed and Chia Seed oils work hard to replenish your skin's barrier. They act as anti-inflammatory agents for the skin and reduce redness, puffiness, thickening skin, and irritations. They encourage supple, moisture-rich and healthy skin. Toxin-free and allergen-free, these ingredients work for all skin types without worry.
Along with being clean, Starling products are also free of allergens (including nuts, gluten, and soy), toxins and known irritants. We are more than clean beauty: We're better and safer for people with skin sensitivities. Click in below to see a sampling of our plant-based skincare products:
