GUT & SKIN CONNECTION!
We all know there is a profound connection between the gut + skin, today we want to dive a little deeper into this connection and share a gut & skin spring clean protocol!
How can your gut health dictate your skin?
- Compromised digestion = reduced nutrient absorption
You could enjoy the most nutrient-dense breakfast in the world but if you don’t have the correct balance of digestive enzymes, stomach acid and bile to break down and absorb your meal this can lead to reduced nutrient absorption! Remember, the body prioritises where your nutrients are sent, your major organs such as your heart are on the top of the list and sadly your skin is at the bottom.
- All your microbiomes talk!
Yes, that’s right, the trillions of different bacteria, fungi and viruses within the gut can influence your skins microbiome. This is why we love sharing pre and probiotics with our clients! For example, there is amazing clinical research on the probiotic strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) which can reduce the severity of eczema.
- Inflammation & intestinal permeability
If your skin is red, irritated and inflamed we can almost bet that your internal environment is also inflamed. When you think of your gut lining we want it to be strong and resilient, when it becomes compromised and inflamed little gap junctions (holes) can appear in the gut lining. This means molecules that should stay within the gut start to seep out. This can lead to immune activation and symptoms such as food intolerances + skin connections.
So what can you do to support these 3 important gut + skin elements?
- Increase nutrient absorption by stimulating digestive enzymes & bile with bitters. This could look like:
- Shot of apple cider of vinegar before a meal
- Starting a meal with a side salad of rocket or dandelion greens
- Chewing on fennel seeds
- Sipping cup of dandelion tea
2. Feed and look after your gut microbiome with pre and probiotics. Pre-biotics can be found in:
- Fresh fruit and vegetables
- Kombucha
- KimiChi
- Miso soup
- sauerkraut
***If you suspect SIBO or any bacteria overgrowth within the gut always consult your health care practitioner first as certain pre & pro can make your condition worse. In cases such as these, your naturopath may explore a method called Weed, Feed and Seed! This is a 3 step protocol that involves weeding out the bacteria overgrowth, feeding the gut lining and seeding new bacteria strains. You can book in for a Naturopathy consult via the “Book now” tab.
3. Reducing intestinal permeability
Soothing your gut lining and reducing inflammation is complex and multi-factorial, it’s always best to work alongside a health care professional. Food as medicine options that you can consider:
- Collagen powder (we sell a high strength one in clinic!)
- Bone broth
- Ghee
Gut + Skin SPRING clean protocol
AM
Start your day with a cup of dandelion tea or a shot of apple cider vinegar – the naturally bitter taste stimulates saliva, digestive enzymes and bile to assist in breaking down and assimilating nutrients from your meals.
Mid Day
Swap your afternoon coffee for a bottle of kombucha! Make sure you check the label that it’s organic and low in sugar. This is a simple swap to increases your daily consumption of pre-biotics.
Pm
Use bone broth or collagen powder as the base of your meal! The collage powder we sell in the clinic is tasteless and can dissolve into hot or cold drinks/meals. Add to soup, spaghetti or curry!
This is just the tip of the iceberg when exploring the gut + skin connection!
Hit book now and let’s create a unique skin protocol to help you achieve all of your skin goals!
