Is your stomach feeling more upset than usual and keeping you up at night? Then, you may be experiencing issues with your gut health. The food we eat should nourish our bodies, but some types of food make our stomachs too acidic which can wreak havoc on the skin. Breakouts, acne, hyperpigmentation, and inflammation can all come from a highly acidic or processed diet. Read on to learn more about gut health and how it may be affecting your skin.

Why is Gut Health Important?

Our digestive system is a very complex structure that absorbs nutrients from our food and delivers them to the body. Doctors are dedicating more time to studying the gut and its ties to the immune system, mental health, skin conditions, and other disorders. Overall, the gut microbiome, which is composed of flora or microorganisms living in the intestines, is what makes gut health so important. Beyond good digestion, studies show that these microorganisms can boost our immune systems, help with depression, and even combat obesity. 

So, how can you tell if your microorganisms or flora are compromised? Well, try drinking beet juice! If your microorganisms aren’t working properly or are significantly diminished, they won’t be able to filter out the red colour of this food. Along with this easy test,  there are other ways to tell if something is amiss in your digestive system.

Signs of an Unhealthy Gut

In many cases, poor gut health has been linked to skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, psoriasis, and even dermatitis. Although these conditions aren’t always connected, the presence of the symptoms below may point to damaged digestive flora.

• Upset stomach – First of all, this is the biggest clue that something is wrong in your digestive system. Anything from bloating, gas, heartburn, constipation, and diarrhoea may indicate that your flora are struggling. 
• A sugary diet – Consuming too many added sugars or processed foods can affect the good bacteria in your digestive system. High levels of refined sugar in the body may cause inflammation which can lead to a whole host of health issues. 
• Food allergies – Intolerance towards certain types of food has a link to bacteria in the gut. What’s certain is that food allergies can cause difficulty in digesting food and lead to abdominal pain, as well as other digestive issues.
• Skin issues – Our skin is the body’s largest organism and often reflects what’s happening on the inside. Inflammation in the gut can cause “leaking” of proteins and other nutrients, which may lead to skin issues such as eczema.
• Trouble sleeping – As a result, a “leaky gut” can cause difficulty sleeping, leading to poor sleep, insomnia, and chronic fatigue. Not to mention that a large amount of the body’s serotonin (feel-good chemicals) come from the gut, thereby affecting your mood and ability to sleep.

Tips for Better Gut Health

Improving your gut health is something that can make you feel and look better in the long run. Therefore, following these simple tips for strengthening your digestive flora may have a positive impact on your health.

• Choose a balanced diet – What we eat plays a huge role in our gut health. Consuming lots of fruits, veggies, healthy fats (nuts, oils, etc.), and whole grains helps to feed healthy bacteria in the gut. 
• Eat probiotic foods – Foods like fermented vegetables (sauerkraut, kimchi, etc.), kombucha, kefir, and yoghurt can provide healthy probiotics to your gut microbiome.
• Exercise – Regular exercise can boost your metabolism and promote regular movement of the digestive system.
• Reduce your stress – Stress is bad for many reasons and is a common symptom in most health conditions. To avoid stress, promote daily relaxation and self-care to improve your quality of life and gut health.
• Cut processed foods – These foods can hurt our ‘good’ bacteria and help the ‘bad’ bacteria. It’s best to avoid anything that has too many refined sugars or additives.

The Takeaway

Altogether, good gut health is vital to helping you feel and look as beautiful as you are on the inside. Want to discover more natural skincare resources? Discover the wonders of soapmaking with WapoBeauty’s Soapmaking eBook. For guided learning, check out WapoBeauty’s Complete Facial Skincare Online Course for Beginners and discover how to make professional, safe, and stable natural beauty products. Join the ranks of students who found this class valuable and rewarding! 

ABOUT OUR BLOGGER:

Ashuni Pérez is an American writer based in Valencia, Spain. She has a passion for natural beauty and the environment. Ashuni loves to cycle and drink smoothies in the sun. Follow her on Instagram at @ashuuuuni