Digestion's Link to Skincare

Digestion is a very hot topic in all areas of skin and beauty! On top of feeling your best, digestion has been linked to skin health and appearance. Our gut is often referred to as the "second brain of the body," so it's no wonder that your diet and digestion could affect more than one part of your body! With new research and studies done, we can finally see the direct correlation between digestion and your beauty!

In a study done in 2008, a group of researchers found that someone with rosacea was 10x more likely to have an overgrowth of bacteria in their small intestine! While we like the good bacteria in our small intestine, too much of a good thing can be bad! There were even more studies done showing that those with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) were far more likely to have a major skin condition! When we look into the root causes of these correlations, the common denominator is inflammation and irregularities in the bowels.

Common causes of inflammation:

Food or medication allergies

Alcohol
Highly-processed foods
Foods containing artificial coloring or synthetic additives
A high-sugar diet

The stress from irritation and inflammation in your gut sends signals in your nervous system that are projected throughout your body. In response, your body tries to fight the irritants and ramps up your immune system which could cause breakouts or other skin conditions to worsen.

A big factor in the digestion conversation is making sure that you eat the right amount of food full of nutrients to sustain your health! Most importantly we should be prioritizing a broad range of foods that are as close to their natural form as possible. A diet rich in essential vitamins and minerals has been proven to substantially improve all aspects of your health, including your skin! If you are struggling with any kinds of skin conditions, it would be a great idea to turn to your diet for answers!

Healthy gut = clear skin habits:

See if you have any food allergies that are causing your irritation. Start by cutting out certain well-known food allergies like gluten.

Eat real, whole foods. For example, get a good amount of natural produce and meat (if you eat it) before any processed foods.
Exercise every day if possible. Moving your body helps promote digestion and keeps things flowing.
Make sure you're getting enough fiber. Many people don't realize they're not intaking enough fiber to maintain a healthy gut flow.

If you change some of your daily habits with your diet or lifestyle, your digestive system may thank you! It's a great idea, to pinpoint exactly what was causing your skin woes, by tracking what you eat and daily lifestyle habits that might contribute to flare-ups. Did you eat something different than usual one day? Can you notice a pattern that your skin acts up when you eat a certain way? Do you notice changes in your skin when you have more sedentary weeks? Keeping a diary of these little changes, even a sentence or two a day, could make a big difference in keeping your gut happy, and thus making for happy skin!