You’ve probably heard people talking about “gut health.” But there’s a chance you might not know what that really means or why it’s so important to take care of your gut. Today, we’re going to break it down for you so you can get your gut health into alignment and get gorgeous, glowing skin in the process.
The reason the overall health of your gut is so crucial is that it affects more than just your stomach. It’s important for your entire body because the micro-organisms within your gut are responsible for 70% of your immune system. Did that number surprise you?
Within your gut, there are both good and bad bacteria. The good bacteria are essential for helping you digest food, while the bad bacteria can lead to skin problems and other health issues. Therefore, you want to make sure you’re creating more good bacteria and preventing the bad bacteria from taking over.
How Gut Health Impacts Your Skin
Having healthy gut flora is essential for helping your body break down food and absorb nutrients. It’s also going to help your body eliminate any toxins. When your gut flora isn’t healthy and the bad bacteria is overpowering the good, it’s going to cause issues like inflammation, acne, and possibly even eczema.
Thus, you want to focus on improving your gut health if you seem to be struggling with recurring skin issues. However, it’s important to note that healing your gut is not something that’s going to happen overnight. This is something that requires a holistic approach (e.g. living a healthy lifestyle, proper skincare, and regular sleep).
Improving Your Gut Health
If you feel like your gut health could be negatively impacting your skin, you don’t need to panic. There are steps you can take to nourish your gut and replenish the good, natural bacteria your body needs to function properly. One of the best ways to do that is through probiotics.
Probiotics are essential for improving our digestive health and also supporting our immune system. When taking probiotic supplements or consuming foods rich in probiotics, it will allow the good bacteria in your gut to flourish and reduce the growth of any harmful bacteria. It can also alleviate any gastrointestinal problems like bloating and gas. And as we mentioned, getting your gut health into alignment can help clear up your problem skin.
There are a variety of foods that contain probiotics. Kombucha, tempeh, sauerkraut and kimchi are some of the most popular options. Another would be to eat yogurt, but you want to be smart about which one you buy. Look for “live, active cultures” in your yogurt of choice to ensure you’re getting the most benefits.
If you’re not sure which form of probiotic will work best for you, consult with your primary care physician or a gastroenterologist.
Maintaining Your Gut Health
To ensure your gut is happy and healthy, you can’t just take a probiotic supplement for a month and consider it done. You have to be consistent about caring for your body if you want to see long-term results. That means incorporating probiotics into your daily diet, but also making smart choices with the foods you eat.
You can nourish your gut by eating a diet that’s rich in fresh fruits and vegetables. Real, wholesome ingredients are going to be what makes the difference here. Avoid processed food and skip the treats that are loaded with refined carbohydrates and sugars.
Also, pay attention to what your body responds to. Ingredients like gluten, soy, and dairy can be triggers for you and you’ll want to eliminate them from your diet. That doesn’t have to feel overwhelming though because you can still enjoy plenty of nutrient-rich foods.
