Guess what? You ARE what you eat when it comes to skin health and beauty.
Team Costhetics is reminded of this whenever we look into trending topics like cosmetic surgery, skin rejuvenation, and aesthetic enhancement. Whichever way we go, we find ourselves at the intersection where the bacteria in your gut meet the skin on your bones, to make or break a good complexion.
40 Trillion Bacteria Call Your Gut Home
We humans produce bacteria the way McDonalds produces hamburgers. The gastrointestinal tract that leads from your mouth to your hindquarters is a microbiome and hosts some 40 trillion different bacteria. Bacteria range in function from helpful to hurtful, with many of the little devils contributing to the development of a broad range of diseases and health problems, including a bad complexion.
How is your microbiome doing? Costhetics can help you find out…
Gut Microbiome Skin Test
Here’s a quick test to see if your gut may be affecting your skin. What do you see when you look in the mirror or do a weekly skin check?
- Do you see skin that’s dry and peeling?
- Is your skin constantly inflamed?
- Have you developed atopic dermatitis or psoriasis?
- Is your eczema, rosacea, or acne worsening?
- Does your scalp flake and itch?
If the answer is yes, your gut biome may be the cause. When you eat poorly, your gut produces protein cells called cytokines. These cells are a double-whammy to skin health. They suppress the immune system, leaving skin at risk of infection. Cytokines also disrupt the skin’s barrier function. This raises the next question:
How do I support the good bacteria in my body and fight back against the bad? Costhetics has some suggestions that will help you eat your way to beautiful.
Your Gut Loves Diversity
Each type (species) of bacteria in your body plays a unique role in your health. The more different types of bacteria you have, the more effectively your microbiome will function. You can encourage the growth and development of different types of bacteria by simply diversifying your diet with foods that provide:
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Fatty acids
- Amino acids
These are essential for what your skin (and you) care about the most:
- Removal of toxins
- Improved absorption of nutrients
- Increased production of collagen
- Improved skin barrier
Here’s how to get what you need…
F-F-F-Fibre for Fabulous Skin
Costhetics has said it before, and we’ll say it again: eat your fresh fruits and veg! They are nutrient-dense and nourish your body in ways that no processed food can. They are also high in fibre. Why is this important? Fibre can’t be digested by your stomach, but it can be digested by gut bacteria. When they are well-fed, the bacteria can grow and function at optimal levels in your gut. “Following a diet rich in fruits and vegetables prevented the growth of some disease-causing bacteria,” one Healthline study found.
“No matter what your skin is like,” Allure Magazine encourages you to add these superfoods to your shopping list:
- Artichokes – contain silymarin, a flavonoid that helps clear blemish-prone skin
- Chia seeds – a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids to support collagen production
- Ginger – anti-inflammatory and soothing effects for skin
- Miso – filled with probiotics and (unlike yogurt) has no lactose
- Oatmeal – low-glycaemic foods like this decrease blood sugar and ward off acne
Are you worried that you will get a big gut on the outside if you feed your inner gut? You can avoid that trap with portion control and with lower calorie selections: apples instead of bananas … whole grains instead of white rice … etc. Also be sure to enjoy legumes, beans, and nuts as part of your skin health diet.
Living well may be the best revenge, and now you know that eating well means you’ll be living well longer … and with beautiful skin to boot.