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2024.01.23
Does a Vegan Diet Age You? Or Make You Younger? A Cosmetic Dermatologist Explains Key Considerations
To maximize your beauty, care for both the inside and outside is essential. We aim to bring advanced anti-aging treatments, such as peptide therapy common overseas, to our Japanese patients. While aesthetic medical approaches may offer more gradual results, they are crucial for building the foundation that supports beauty and youth. We combine nutritional therapy and lifestyle improvements with hormone replacement, peptide therapy, and regenerative medicine to propose personalized treatment plans. We provide long-term support for health and beauty from within.
Hello.
I am Yoko Maeda, Director of Aesthetic Medicine at BIANCA CLINIC.
This time, "Is it true that vegans age faster?Regarding the question "Is it true that collagen injections can make you look younger?", I will explain scientifically from the perspective of an aesthetic medicine specialist.
What is veganism? Is it healthy? Or does it make you age faster?
People who consume no animal-based foods whatsoever—such as meat, fish, eggs, or dairy products—and live solely on plant-based foods are called "vegans."
While more people are adopting veganism due to heightened environmental awareness and health consciousness, there are also many who claim that "veganism makes your skin look dull" or "it makes you look older."
In reality,How you balance your nutrition can either lead to looking younger or older.That's also true.
What determines whether you age is what you eat and how you eat it.
Stanford University Study Shows Potential for Veganism to Reverse Aging
Have you all seen the Netflix documentary "You Are What You Eat"?
The Stanford University study featured on this program compared a "healthy omnivorous diet" with a "healthy vegan diet" over an 8-week period in 22 pairs of identical twins (44 individuals).
As a result, the following changes were observed in the vegan diet group.
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Biological age has been rejuvenated
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Weight loss
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Cholesterol levels and fasting insulin levels improved
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Happiness levels are rising
It's surprising that even identical twins with the same genes can show such a difference just because of their eating habits.
This "biological age" is measured using the epigenetic clock (biological age test), which is also adopted at Bianca Clinic.
Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian—What's the Difference?
You may have heard the term "vegetarian," which is similar to "vegan," but do you know the difference? Also, you've probably noticed more foods labeled "plant-based" at restaurants and other places lately.
Since many terms are similar, I've organized the differences between dietary lifestyles that are often confused.
| Dietary Habits | Consumption of animal-based foods | Features and Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Vegan | Do not take any | Completely excludes meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products. Primarily for ethical and environmental reasons. |
| Vegetarian | Eggs and dairy products may be consumed. | There are several types within the scope of what you can eat, such as eggs and milk being okay. |
| Pescatarian | I eat fish but not meat. | Provides DHA/EPA, which positively impacts skin and brain health |
| Flexitarian | Primarily vegetarian; occasionally meat and fish are acceptable. | A balanced approach that's easy to maintain and keeps you health-conscious |
| Plant-Based | Plant-based but not strictly vegetarian | For health purposes, it is also gaining attention in the field of aesthetic medicine. |
In an era where food styles are diversifying, it's important to understand these differences too.
Why Vegans Are Said to "Age Faster"
It's said that vegans tend to age more quickly,Certain nutrients are prone to deficiencyThat's why.
For example, the following nutrients are essential for maintaining skin and hair elasticity and shine.
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Vitamin B12 and iron (abundant in lean meat, etc.)
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DHA/EPA and Zinc (Fish-derived)
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Vitamin D (easily deficient even with insufficient sunlight)
A deficiency in these nutrients can slow down skin metabolism, potentially leading to poor blood circulation, fatigue, and dryness.
Recently,DHA/EPA derived from microalgaeVegan-friendly supplements are also available, and using them wisely can help prevent premature aging.
Anti-Aging Tips for Vegans, According to a Cosmetic Physician
To stay youthful even as a vegan, keep these three points in mind:
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Make sure to get enough protein(Legumes, soy products, nuts, etc.)
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Supplementing nutrients that are often deficient with supplements(B vitamins, iron, vitamin D, etc.)
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Focus on natural ingredients rather than relying on processed foods
Furthermore, if you wish to confirm the effects of changes in dietary habits,Measuring biological ageBy doing so, you can track changes inside your body with numerical data.
Biological Age Test Available at Bianca Clinic
Bianca Clinic offers epigenetic clock testing (biological age assessment).
This is not about how old you look,Scientifically evaluate cellular agingAvailable tests.
"I want to try going vegan, but I don't want to look older."
I want to know how my current diet affects my body's youthfulness.
If that sounds like you, why not consider getting support to maintain your youthful vitality from the inside out? We can assess your nutritional and metabolic status based on your test results.
Summary｜Nutritional balance is key to staying youthful as a vegan!
While a vegan diet can sometimes cause premature aging due to nutritional imbalances, consciously supplementing necessary nutrients and practicing it in a balanced way can support maintaining youthfulness at the cellular level.
At Bianca Clinic, we work with you to discover an “age-defying diet” tailored to your lifestyle, guided by the principles of aesthetic medicine.
First,Biological Age TestLet's start by understanding your current physical condition.
Don't fight your age—rejuvenate from the cellular level.
That is what Bianca Clinic's Aesthetic Medicine Department considers “true anti-aging.”
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