Complexion issues – from spots and acne to puffiness and uneven skin tone – can strike at any age. Along with creams, treatments and prescription medication, there’s some evidence to suggest paying attention to your diet could be helpful. Enter Diane Morgan – aka Motherland’s outspoken single mum Liz – who believes her switch to veganism last January has had a major impact on her skin.

‘I just love animals and I do a lot of work for animal charities, and consequently you see videos of the way animals are treated,’ she told The Irish News. ‘A lot of factory farming is horrific and I was already vegetarian, but when I saw all of that and how they’re treated, I thought, “I just can’t do this anymore”.’

And there was a VERY happy side-effect. Diane says the ‘extra vegetables’ in her diet, along with eating no dairy products, really gave her complexion a boost. ‘If you’re not eating meat or cheese, you’ve really got to make friends with the vegetable. And I tell you what, my skin’s got much better since I went vegan. It’s definitely clearer,’ she says. Science concurs – a 2023 review concluded that a well-balanced vegan diet can lower inflammation – which is good news if you suffer from acne – and provides all the nutrients needed for healthy skin.

‘Some of the important antioxidants in fruit and vegetables support the immune system, reduce inflammation and help protect against damage,’ says Anna Mapson, nutritional therapist and gut health expert. ‘Antioxidants include lycopene (in tomatoes), which helps with cell turnover and DNA damage, polyphenols in blueberries, cherries and pomegranate.

‘Then there are the healthy fats and vitamin E from foods like olives, nuts and seeds, and avocado, which can also support the skin to stay supple and soft.’

Vegan diets tend to be higher in fibre ‘which can also improve your heart health as well, reducing the risk of a stroke and heart disease,’ Anna adds. ‘Good circulation can bring fresh nutrients to the skin, keeping you looking well from the outside.’

And plants also contribute to the health of your gut – which has a direct line to your complexion. ‘Eating a wider variation of plant-based foods will help to increase diversity within the collections of microbes in the gut. Different types of fibres are consumed by different bacteria, so the more variety you can eat, the better your gut health. There’s some research that 30 different plant-based foods a week is a good marker for variety.

Improved gut bacteria can support the skin through the skin-brain-gut axis, a kind of messaging service between the skin and the digestive tract. Gut bacteria can also support the reduction of inflammation through the immune system, much of which is situated in the gut.’

Luckily, eating plant-based can be delicious, too – get started with the GH food team’s favourite vegan eats – just click here for recipes.