The Relationship between Gut Health & Skin
You can use as many expensive “cure-all” skincare products as you like, but did you know that a glowing, smooth, hydrated complexion begins in your gut? So, instead of simply throwing your money at the latest “miracle” skincare product, we suggest investing your time and energy in improving your digestive health.
Gut bacteria play a major role in our overall health, but what some don’t realise is that a build-up of bad gut bacteria can affect your skin. The gut-to-skin connection is something that many do not realise when it comes to overall gut health and the appearance of our skin.
If you have an unhealthy gut that’s storing too much bad bacteria, it can impact the appearance of your skin – resulting in breakouts, inflammation, eczema and rosacea. The inflammation in the gut caused by a poor diet or food allergies may cause increased ‘leaking’ of certain proteins out of the body, which can irritate our skin. Here's 5 simple things you can do every day to improve the health of your gut and you skin:
1. Eat more wholefoods
Filling your diet with an abundance of plant-based, fibre-rich wholefoods such as fresh fruit and vegetables, pulses, nuts and wholegrains will help to feed the good bacteria in your gut.
2. Stay hydrated
Drinking plenty of water has been shown to have a beneficial effect on the mucosal lining of the intestines, as well as on the balance of good bacteria in the gut. Staying hydrated is a simple way to promote a healthy gut. Women should have about two litres (eight cups) of fluids a day, and men about 2.6 litres (10 cups).
3. Ensure you are getting enough quality sleep
Lack of sleep can increase stress, which affects the gut. This can lead to issues ranging from bloating and stomach pains to inflammation, food sensitivities, and changes to the gut microbiome. While sleep requirements vary slightly from person to person, most healthy adults need 7-9 hours of sleep per night to function at their best.
4. Avoid highly processed foods and alcohol
Heavily processed foods often contain unhealthy levels of added sugar, refined carbohydrates, artificial ingredients, sodium and fat. While these ingredients make the food taste better, too much of them can lead to serious health issues and an increased level destructive bacteria that produce toxins that harm the gut. The same goes for alcohol. Excessive alcohol consumption can inhibit the production of digestive enzymes and juices, meaning it becomes more difficult for your body to breakdown, digest, and absorb nutrients from your food.
5. Add a high-quality probiotic to your diet
Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for your health, especially your digestive system. Our bodies are full of bacteria, both good and bad. Probiotics are often called “good” or “helpful” bacteria because they support a healthy gut. Amazonia Raw Probiotic Biotic Ferment is a Certified Organic blend of 5 probiotic strains, prebiotics and fermented wholefoods to promote digestive balance. Probiotics are good bacteria that help replenish healthy gut flora while prebiotics and fermented wholefoods help probiotics thrive inside the body. Amazonia’s Raw Probiotic is gluten and dairy-free, vegan-friendly and contains 3 billion probiotics to help replenish the digestive flora.
These are just a few of the things you can do each day to nourish your gut, and therefore your skin, from the inside out.
References:
https://www.naturopathica.com.au/gut-hold-key-clear-glowing-skin
https://nowpatient.com/how-can-gut-health-affect-your-skin-and-why/
https://www.healthline.com/health/gut-health#signs-and-symptoms