A Net Zero lifestyle can improve your mind and body in so many ways. While climate change scientists recommend that a plant-based diet is the only sustainable diet in a Net Zero world; it is also the best diet for our bodies, according to nutritionists and the medical profession.

What is a plant-based diet? It is a diet where meat does not take up anymore than a third of the diet. The majority of the diet is plants and this makes the diet rich in vitamins and minerals. Plants include fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, rice, wholegrains, plant milks, plant protein, herbs, spices and drinks. Contrary to popular belief, a plant-based diet is not restricted to vegetarian and vegan diets and can include flexitarian and pescatarian diets.

A plant-based diet can be game-changing when it comes to your health and set you up to live a life with more years in good health. Research has proven that it can keep us youthful for longer by reversing aging skin, slowing down our biological age and preventing diseases.

Plant-based diets give you younger skin

Research shows that a plant based-diet slows down the rate at which our skin ages. This is because plant-based diets include more fruits and vegetables, there is much less processed food and more vitamins and minerals compared to a meat-rich diet.

A diet high in plants keeps our skin more youthful because it is full of vitamins that help with the renewal of cells. Plant based diets are full of anti-oxidants from fruits and vegetables and this increases our intake of vitamin A, C and E which are essential for youthful skin and often in anti-aging skin products. Vitamins A, C and E prevents cellular damage and keeps skin firmer for longer. 

Nutrients from a high intake of plants synthesizes collagen which improves skin firmness and elasticity. It is much more effective and cheaper to increase your intake of plants than buying collagen supplements according to nutritionists. A typical Western diet tends to have a much higher intake of meat, processed food, sugar and less vitamin intake than recommended by the medical professions. These foods age skin faster, triggers inflammation and reduced skin elasticity.

Research shows that what makes plant-based diets even more effective for improving your skin is when the food is unprocessed. Processed foods are foods that have ingredients added to them in order to last longer or taste better. Unprocessed food has little added to them and has not been altered from their natural state. A plant-based diet also keeps your skin looking younger because it improves the health of the gut and this has a direct impact on the health of the skin.

Plant-based diets slow down your biological age

Research into biological aging has shown that plant-based diets slow down the rate at which our body ages. Your biological age is the age of your cells and how this relates to a decline in their function. This is different from your chronological age (your actual age) which is how long you have been alive. Biological age is different from your chronical age because your body can age faster or slower. You can be an age of 40 and have a biological age of either 35 or 50. Biological age matters because it can be a good predictor of how many healthy years we have left and it can predict how vulnerable we are to developing diseases in the future. Genetics and lifestyle habits determine how fast we biologically age.

Research by Harvard University (2025) that analysed the diets of over 100,000 people suggested eating a mainly plant-based diet in middle age significantly increases your chances of aging healthy. Healthy aging was defined as reaching 70 free from chronic aliments and maintaining cognitive, physical and mental health. Those who followed a diet high in plants and with limited red and processed meat, sugary drinks and refined grains had an 86% higher chance of healthy aging compared to those who did not. Plant-based diets can have a big impact how fast we age.

Plant-based diets prevent diseases

A plant-based diet has less sugar and fats which prevents the body from developing a wide range of diseases. Research from Harvard Medical School has shown that a plant-based diet reduces the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some types of cancers because plants are full of healthy, unsaturated fats. Plants include a lot of fibre which helps with digestion and improves gut health. Better gut health is associated with reducing auto-immune diseases as it helps with managing weight, blood glucose, inflammation and heart health.

Plant-based diets are also richer in vitamins and minerals. Eating a variety of plant food groups increases your intake of vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K. Vitamin D is known to be important for supporting the healthy functioning of the immune system and bone strength. Vitamins A, C and E all protect eye health and skin health. Plant-based food also has many minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, selenium and zinc and an increase of these minerals can improve bone strength, sleep and prevent infections.