The Duchess of Edinburgh always looks positively resplendent, and her impeccable style is only a part of that. Her routine, including her diet and exercise, is equally as vital to how she stays glowing at 61.
However, there is one aspect to how she eats that is particularly important to her skin health, and it's one that is also incredibly easy to take on board at home.
© GettyLily Simpson, founder of health-oriented food delivery service The Detox Kitchen, revealed to the Daily Mail that the Duchess of Edinburgh had a balanced and healthy diet: "A diet of plant-based foods and lean protein has had a huge impact on the appearance of skin, as does keeping well hydrated and getting proper sleep.
While this doesn't mean that she sticks strictly to a vegan or plant-based diet, relying primarily on plant-based foods can have an array of benefits.
The benefits of eating plant-based food
Francesca Lyon, the lead nutritionist at hormone health organisation FUTURE WOMAN, previously spoke exclusively to HELLO! in January, telling us about the benefits of a plant-based diet amid the 'Veganuary' craze, as long as you're prioritising eating healthily, with whole foods over processed meat substitutes.
She began: "There are loads of benefits to eating a vegan diet, especially if you are planning and supplementing appropriately. Some of the initial benefits of being on a healthy vegan diet are the increase in intake of vegetables, which are nutrient dense and full of fibre, keeping our gut bacteria happy.
"Leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables and sprouts are particularly beneficial for optimal hormonal health and can help oestrogen detox," she continued. An increase in vegetables can also "result in an initial reduction in inflammation for many," per the nutrition expert.
© GettyThough she points out that this is changing, she also explains that a plant-based diet offers fewer options for processed foods, which she calls "typically highly inflammatory".
"They contain added sugars, processed seed oils and other chemicals like artificial flavouring," she continued, "so cutting them out and cooking more from scratch could reduce overall inflammation."
Again, we know that the Duchess of Edinburgh isn't entirely vegan, also eating lean proteins alongside her mostly plant-based diet. There could be a variety of reasons for this, as Francesca notes that vegan diets have frequently been linked to deficiencies in some key nutrients, including vitamin D, vitamin A, iron, zinc and vitamin B12, which she notes are "all nutrients that if lacking can lead to hormonal issues, mood changes, poor sleep, low energy and more."
As always, it seems that balance is the crucial factor in the Duchess of Edinburgh's diet: it's not about restricting herself, but about nourishing herself with clean, healthy and nutritious food as much as possible to keep her energy levels high for her busy schedule!
