Many things affect our skin health and beauty, including diet, sleep, stress and the environment. Whilst we can’t always control all of these factors, the good news is we can control some, including what we put on our skin and what we consume. Healthy, vibrant skin comes from a healthy body filled with healthy foods. So it goes without saying that eating the right food and drink is crucial for a healthy glow. But it’s not just the types of food we eat that that’s so important, it’s also how it’s produced. Antioxidants are famed for their health benefits, including fighting the signs of ageing and nurturing skin health.

One of the primary ways to support our body’s antioxidant defence system is to consume plenty of plant foods. As well as providing vitamin C, they are literally brimming with those all-important polyphenols, as well as other types of antioxidants. Studies have shown that organic foods have a higher antioxidant content and so do natural beauty products. That’s just one of the many reasons we are organic enthusiasts and only use organic herbs in our teas and herbal remedies.

Organic beauty

Whilst organic herbs contain higher levels of powerful protective and rejuvenating compounds, we also love organic because it means giving back what we take out. It’s a holistic way of living and means living with respect for the world around us. Ever since we started Pukka, we’ve been passionate about connecting people and plants. Organic methods bring people together with plants, and plants with people, for the good of everyone. And it’s this exchange of goodness that makes organic principles special to us.

• Organic farms have 50% more wildlife than non-organic farms, with 30% more species. These wildlife havens provide homes for bees, birds and butterflies, which in turn help wildlife numbers to flourish. And this includes small mammals like voles and hedgehogs right up to birds of prey and foxes.
• Organic farmers also use natural processes such as energy from the sun to fix nitrogen in the soil, crop and livestock rotations, and natural predators for pest control.
• It’s also generally considered a more energy efficient system of food production. This is mainly because it does not use inorganic nitrogen fertiliser, which is made from petrochemicals. If all UK farmland was converted to organic, at least 3.2 million tonnes of carbon would be taken up by the soil each year. That’s the equivalent of taking nearly one million cars off the road.

As the great Mahatma Ghandhi once said, “Be the change you want to see in the world”. By drinking Pukka teas, taking our wellbeing supplements and using our oils, you can help us create ever-increasing cycles of good around the planet. From the wonderful feeling that comes with connecting with nature in your own home, all the way back to the growers who you support and reward for their hard work.

About the author

Sebastian Pole is Co-founder and Master Herbsmith at Pukka Herbs. As well as formulating all of Pukka’s organic products, Sebastian runs his own herbal practice in Bath which he’s done since 1998. Sebastian is a registered member of the Ayurvedic Practitioners Association, Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine and the Unified Register of Herbal Practitioners. All this with the aim of using the principles of Ayurveda (the ancient art of living wisely) to help create positive change and positive health. Sebastian is passionate about running a business that inspires positive change and brings the benefit of the incredible power of plants to everyone Pukka Herbs connects with.

www.pukkaherbs.com