Food x Skin Relationship

Our gut x skin relationship is one of the key factors in reducing inflammation within the body, as our skin is largely a reflection of what is going on inside of us - so, let’s talk about food and skin.

GUT X SKIN

Looking at the body from within is a great starting point for our overall skin health, and many the people tend to overlook or want to avoid - whether it is acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis or pigmentation etc.. our skin shows us signs of what is truly happening internally. More than 80% of our bacteria lives in the gut, which has major effects on how our bodies function at the optimal level. Although it varies from each individual, some common foods and habits may trigger inflammation, produce bad bacteria in the gut and/or disturb our hormones. The gut and skin communicate and work together via a network of bacteria, and when the bacteria within your gut are unhealthy, it can impact the overall health of your skin. This is then when the unhealthy gut can manifest as blemishes, inflamed skin, eczema, and rosacea. Our skin is one of the ways to listen to our bodies in what it is truly telling us as it is the body's largest organ. If you are conscious of what you are putting into your body, you will in return support your gut in healing, which then allows the skin to flourish.

INFLAMMATION

Now as mentioned this varies between each individual, but within my practice I have found a few common triggers for inflammation that shows through our skin,

DAIRY

There are two main factors on why dairy may not be best suited for your gut x skin relationship, 1) the breaking down of enzymes and 2), the added hormones. Several individuals find the enzymes in dairy products hard to digest, which can lead to an inflamed, bloated and troubled gut microbiome. Many dairy products also have added hormones which is what the cows utilize to produce more milk, but those added androgen hormones are strongly linked to acne development. Androgen hormones (which is a form of testosterone), stimulates the sebaceous glands creating oiler skin that is more prone to pore blockages and ultimately breakouts. 

ALCOHOL

When over consuming alcohol your body can develop problems with bacterial toxins moving out of the colon and finding its way into the body - often referred to as “leaky gut”. When toxins are not properly removed from the body, they become trapped and widespread, which then can lead to other potential organ damage or casualties. Alcohol also has a great impact on the hydration within your body. Since it dehydrates the skin,  this means your skin loses fluid and nutrients that are vital for healthy-looking skin. This can make your skin look wrinkled, dull and grey, red and inflamed, or bloated and puffy.

REFINED CARBOHYDRATES, FRIED FOODS & SUGAR

Oh how we all love carbs, sugar and fried foods…. but oh how they can encourage the growth of inflammatory gut bacteria.

To put it simply, refined carbs have most of their fibre removed, and by removing the majority of healthy fibre this is what can create inflammation in the gut. They have a higher glycemic index, which can raise blood sugar.

In addition, studies have found that fried food and sugar consumption may contribute to offsetting the balance of a healthy gut microbiome, which would increase inflammation in the body entirely.

TREATING INFLAMMATION

Here are some of my favourite and easy tips to begin reducing inflammation in the gut:

Fruits and veggies

Go for variety and lots of colour.

Whole grains

Oatmeal, brown rice, whole-wheat bread, and other unrefined grains tend to be high in fiber, and fiber keeps toxins moving out of the body to help decrease inflammation.

Spearmint Tea

Spearmint tea has been researched to naturally balance hormones and decrease inflammation in the gut from digestion. It may reduce the effects of the Androgen hormone, over time decreasing acne, oil production, pcos symptoms, and bloating. Helps aid in digestion by relaxing the stomach muscles and is shown to be anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and high in antioxidants. Dandelion root tea is commonly known to reduce inflammation in the gut by improving digestion and aiding in a healthy gut flora. The dandelion plant also has been found to have beneficial probiotics which can help relieve bloating and general digestive discomfort, as well as stabilize blood sugar and reduce excess water weight. With a high source of vitamin A, K, E, C, Potassium and fiber, dandelion tea is a nutritious tasty tea to add to your day! 

SUPPLEMENTS

Supplements are also an excellent way to support and work alongside your diet, boosting key nutrients we may not be fully receiving or depleted from. A key supplement to support inflammation by Cymbiotika is the Zinc Complex. Zinc is proven to aid in wound healing, help fight infection and help bring down inflammation, acne, rosacea and eczema. 

WATER

A simple habit that we can start today is drinking the recommended amount of water daily! Without water, organs will not function properly or at their best and every skin cell in the body is made up of water. With replenishing yourself daily, water will increase the hydration in the skin and in return will plump fine-lines and wrinkles. Water will also flush out any toxins in our body through your kidneys and support the movement of your lymphatic system, allowing the lymph to flow quicker and become less thick, therefore it can bring nutrients where needed and remove more toxins. With the constant flow, water also helps your digestive tract and bowel movements, which overtime may decrease inflammation.

SAUNAS

One of my absolute favourite ways to decrease inflammation in the body is the use of a Sauna anywhere from 1-4x per week. Saunas allow for endorphins to rise which allows for your mind to feel good - in turn making your gut feel good. We can then begin talking about the gut x mind relationship…. but I’ll save that for another blog.

MORE WAYS TO KEEP YOUR GUT CALM THROUGHOUT THE DAY

  • Consume an abundance of anti-inflammatory foods

  • Consume fermented foods rich in digestive enzymes

  • Consume probiotics

  • Consume healthy fats

  • Cut back on caffeine

  • Cut back on processed foods

  • Cut back on seed oils

SUMMARY

Our goal is to not only offer effective and comprehensive skincare treatments, but to create an environment that helps to heal the mind by creating a sense of relaxation, renewal, and peace of mind every time you walk through our clinic's doors. We do our best to educate our clients on all of the factors that could be contributing to overall skin health, and the relationship with food plays a big part in this.

We always recommend checking with your doctor before implanting any of these lifestyle changes.

“If you keep good food in your fridge, you will eat good food.”

– Errick McAdams

Jordan RadkeJRAD SKINComment