Want Better Skin? Start With Your Gut!

Are you struggling with regular pimples on your forehead, acne breakouts, or eczema? Did you try tons of different types of creams and beauty products without success? Glowing skin is something everyone wants, but how exactly can you achieve it?

Treating your skin on the surface may help manage symptoms but not necessarily get to the root cause. Rather than only addressing topical skincare solutions, think of beauty holistically and turn your attention inwards. It all starts at your gut level. There is a connection between your gut and skin. Taking care of your gut health can help resolve your issues and simplify your skincare routine. It can help you get balanced, glowing, and smooth skin and improve your overall health. 

The gut-skin relationship

Your skin and gut may appear completely unrelated but research proposes that they have a direct link. Almost 70% of your body’s immune system lies in your gut and there are trillions of natural bacteria residing in your gut. Some of them are good bacteria that aid digestion and others are harmful ones that may cause diseases. An unhealthy gut can affect your health, including your skin, and can lead to inflammation, spots, eczema, and acne.

How does your gut affect the skin?

An inflamed gut that is not functioning properly due to a high number of bad bacteria can affect your skin’s health. You might not be eating enough nutrient-dense food to create the right balance, or not getting enough sleep. You may be bloated, constipated, or stressed out and craving processed and sugary foods. We generally link all of these things to different reasons but the truth is it all starts in your gut. If you want to know how to have radiant skin naturally, you need to get gutsy. 

What changes your gut flora?

Processed, junk foods, antibiotics, sugar, gluten, and other medicines are some factors that affect the natural bacteria in your gut. More bad bacteria in your gut means higher inflammation in your body. Other factors that influence an overgrowth of bad bacteria include alcohol, caffeine, depression, anxiety, stress, and lack of sleep. Changing your lifestyle habits and looking after your gut health can help treat the root cause and resolve your skin issues. 

How to get better skin? Change your diet

Poor diet and food sensitivities can be triggering your skin issues. The first step is to identify any food sensitivities. You can either easily do it at home with a food journal or you can get tested. Consider the top suspects such as dairy, gluten, corn, refined carbohydrates, fatty deep fried, and sugary foods that disturb your gut and skin health. 

Eat more prebiotics and probiotics 

Probiotic foods, such as kombucha, sauerkraut, and kimchi are a good source of good gut bacteria. Prebiotic foods include whole real foods like radish, asparagus, oatmeal, flaxseeds, and onions. They are a good source of fiber and help feed the good gut bacteria. 

Tips for radiant and glowing skin

You don’t need expensive treatments and creams to get better skin. Your skin health is directly linked to your lifestyle. Focus on your diet and eat an abundance of antioxidant-rich, mostly plant-based foods – including leafy greens, cruciferous veggies as well as easily digested and probiotic-rich wholefoods like kimchi and kefir, and help your skin for the better. And don’t forget to exercise regularly, drink plenty of water for better hydration and manage your stress through daily mindfulness practices.

If you feel like you need extra support to get your inner and outer glow back, click HERE to find out more about Health & Wellness Coaching at Frolic for Life.