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Better Gut Health & Skin in 6 Easy Steps

There’s probably no hotter topic than inflammation, gut health, and our natural microbiome when it comes to health. But did you know that gut health has a significant impact on our skin? Breakdowns in the gut can cause all kinds of skin problems, from redness to breakouts, even increasing the signs of aging! But luckily, the team at Spa Melissa Allen has you covered. We can show you how to fight inflammation, have a healthy gut, and leave you with the kind of skin you love to show off!

Let’s talk guts. More specifically, our gastrointestinal tract. This wonder of the human body does so much for us. It helps us process food, gather nutrients to feed the entire body, and eliminate anything yucky. It helps us metabolize our hormones, keeping everything in check. The gut is one of the primary ways we stay healthy and is a superstar for our immune system. To do its job as efficiently as possible, the gut needs the right tools and the proper nutrients.
There are three ways that the gut can get out of sync: Food, hormones, and stress.

Food
Inside our gut, we have good and bad bacteria. And guess what? They like to eat, too! When we eat things that cause inflammation, like gluten, dairy, sugar, caffeine, or alcohol, it can feed the bacteria in our system. That can trigger inflammation and upset the balance of bacteria in our system. Undigested proteins and toxins then leak into the body and eventually make their way into the skin. Bacteria on the skin then feed on those same toxins, and this can cause skin concerns like acne, rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis.

Hormones
Our gut is responsible for metabolizing hormones and sending old hormones out of the body along with our waste. The gut also influences cholesterol levels, which directly impacts estrogen and progesterone in the body. An estrogen deficiency can cause sagging and thinning of the skin. Progesterone does many things in the body, but one of its jobs is to manage the digestive process. Progesterone issues can cause the digestive tract to slow down, which means old hormones are sticking around longer than they should. Now we have acne and breakouts because the hormones are sticking around. Lactobacillus, a kind of good bacteria, helps regulate insulin. If our insulin isn’t in check and blood sugar is in excess, you can have oily skin or dryness issues.

Stress
We all know we should be doing things to reduce our stress levels. There are two hormones involved in our bodies that are directly impacted by stress. Cortisol is the primary stress hormone. When we’re stressed, it releases sugar into the bloodstream and increases oil production. It also affects our immune system.
Did you know that the gut manufactures 95% of the body’s supply of serotonin? These “happy” hormones affect our entire body, from mood to sleeping and eating patterns. When our gut is out of whack, it’s going to affect how we feel.

So what can you do to stay healthy, keep your gut working ideally, and make your skin glow?

1. Take a prebiotic and probiotic.
Prebiotics feed the good bacteria found in probiotics. You need both for optimum gut health. It’s not enough to place good bacteria in our system and then not give them any way to thrive!

2. Eat healthy foods.
Prebiotics and probiotics can be found in food, too! Garlic, onions, leeks, asparagus, and bananas are all great sources of prebiotics. If you want probiotic food, try yogurt, kimchi, pickles, and kombucha.

3. Cut back on unhealthy foods or foods that can cause issues.
While true allergies to things like gluten are uncommon, many people do have sensitivities to certain foods and ingredients. If you’re unsure if you have problems, you can try a diet like Whole30 to test your body’s response to certain foods. Limit caffeine, sugar, and alcohol to occasional treats.

4. Drink plenty of water
Water helps our entire body stay healthy and boosts the skin. But it also allows the body to process the waste in our digestive tract. Not to mention that moisture makes the skin glow!

5. Get the sleep you need
Sleep is so important. Our body restores itself when we’re resting, and it can’t do that if we don’t get enough sleep. Your skin (and stress levels) will thank you.

6. Visit Spa Melissa Allen
Are you struggling with skin issues like dryness, acne, inflammation, or other skin problems? Visit our website to go through our online consultation. We can help you! Schedule an appointment with us and see how we can work together to get you the skin you deserve at any age.