Gut Health Part 3: Gut Glowing Skin

The health of the skin is the result of any number of things. From genetics and hormones to diet and nutrition, the skin is often a reflection of what is happening internally within the body. So, it should come as no surprise that an unhealthy gut can reveal itself through various skin conditions. When your gut glows from the inside, your skin will too. 

Here is a guide to everything you need to know about the relationship between the gut and the skin- thank us later!

What Is a ‘Healthy’ Gut?

If you associate the word ‘gut’ with a big old beer belly, you’ll be pleased to know the term actually refers to a person’s gastrointestinal tract. 

Did you know...

• The body contains trillions of microorganisms! 
• The largest number of microbes can be found in the large and small intestine
• The total number of microbes in the body weigh roughly 2kg!

 While the word ‘bacteria’ tends to have a negative connotation, it is important to remember that there are good bacteria, too. 

Are you in the good gut health gang?

Bacterial imbalances in the gut are linked to inflammatory conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diarrhea, and constipation. Gut issues can also manifest in other parts of the body and this is where you might see issues with your skin, whether that’s:

• Acne
• Redness
• Sensitivity
• A breakdown of collagen which cause wrinkles and sagging skin
• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Rosacea

 It  has been clinically proven that when digestive balance is off — whether the cause is stress, poor diet, or lack of sleep — the gut becomes overrun with bad bacteria, which can lead to skin-aggravating inflammation.

Here are 3 ways to GET (GUT) GLOWING SKIN

FIBRE, FIBRE, FIBRE

While you can’t change your genes, you can change your diet. High fibre foods can be beneficial to the quality of bacteria in the microbiome. 

This is because the way the body digests dietary fibre in the large intestine can lower the pH of the colon and limit the growth of harmful microbes.

Where can I find fibre?

High-fibre, prebiotic-rich foods can be found in the raw form of the allium family, think garlic, onions, and leeks! Things like fruit and veg, nuts, whole grains, chickpeas, kidney beans and brown/ wholegrain carbs are also great sources of fibre. 

PROBIOTICS

Consuming and applying probiotics is another avenue to take to improve both gut and skin health. While there are countless probiotic supplements on the market, there is no shortage of foods with naturally occuring probiotic properties. Some of our favourites are:

• Kefir
• Kimchi
• Kombucha
• Sauerkraut
• Tempeh
• Miso
• PRESS probiotic water

 Probiotics are clinically proven to reduce the appearance of inflammation and can also help to reduce the appearance of redness and irritation, which helps improve the skin’s clarity and tone.

Research shows that using oral and topical probiotics to restore the normal gut and skin flora is helpful in treating acne and rosacea

BREAK BAD HABITS

In addition to a well-balanced diet, a regular fitness routine and good sleep schedule will help keep the entire body (including the gut) operating optimally. 

Did you know…

Our gut microbes have the same body clock as us so even one night of disrupted sleep can impact them! Try and aim for at least 7 hours of sleep every night.

Watch your antibiotic intake! About 30 percent of antibiotics are prescribed unnecessarily. Antibiotics are designed to kill bad bacteria but they also damage the good bacteria too! After a course of antibiotics, it can take months and even years to restore the beneficial gut bacteria that is lost.