Diet & Fitness
Will Looking After Your Gut Clear Up Your Skin?
I
t might not be the most glamourous topic
of conversation, but how is your gut? You
might not realise it, but what’s going on
inside your abdomen could be the reason
behind your recent breakout and permanently
rosy complexion. Inside the gut there are
trillions of microorganisms including at least
1000 different species of good and bad bac-
teria. When the balance tips in the favour of
the bad guys, this is when problems start to
occur and when the skin starts to react. “The
skin is very good at telling us if we have
problems going on internally and some of
these may be related to how our gut is func-
tioning,” explains Dr Deyo Famuboni, a
London-based GP and health coach. When
the bad bacteria overwhelms the good, it
de-stabilises the internal gut wall, making
the microscopic gaps between the cells bigger.
This makes it easier for harmful substances
and bad bacteria to enter your system where
the body then attacks the intruding sub-
stances which, in turn, leads to an increase
in inflammation. “Various studies have sug-
gested links between the gut microbiome (the
bacteria in the gut) and conditions such as
acne and eczema, obesity, diabetes and
arthritis,” continues Dr Famuboni. “A healthy
gut is therefore vital for optimum health.”
More than 80% of the body’s immunity is
found in the gut, so it’s important not to under-
value the impact it can have on your other
organs, including the skin. But its influence
doesn’t stop at your complexion. A healthy gut
ensures proper digestive function, maintains
the production of vitamins, keeps us protected
against illness and regulates our mood, hence
the gut’s other name: the ‘second brain’.
So how can you maintain a healthy, happy gut?
Well, cutting out sugary, processed and fatty
foods is a great place to start as these disrupt
the gut microbiome and trigger all sorts of
digestive issues for the body. Instead, include
more fruits, vegetables and lean protein in your
diet while adding a few key fermented foods
like sauerkraut and kimchi, which promote
the production of good gut bacteria. You could
also add a probiotic supplement to your routine
to help suppress the bad bacteria in the gut,
while many experts also recommend getting
a good night’s sleep and spending time outside
as other ways to improve gut health.
ISSUE #08 | 2018 | SkinHealthMagazine.com 21