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How Gut Health Affects Your Skin: Using Food to Heal Skin Crises

Writer's picture: Efsevios KontopoulosEfsevios Kontopoulos

Updated: Oct 18, 2023

What if I told you that the key to radiant, clear skin is not found in high-priced lotions and all-natural creams but rather deep within your gut? The emergence of next-generation sequencing in the past decade has provided unprecedented insights into microbiome composition, both on the skin and in the gut. Today, we are able to see more clearly the connection between our gut health and our skin, allowing us to deal with short-term or chronic skin conditions much more easily and effectively.


How Gut Health Affects Your Skin

From the Inside Out


Have you ever heard of the term ‘gut-brain-skin axis’? It may sound a bit like something out of a sci-fi movie, but it’s much more real and important than you may think. After a few years of personal research as well as some trials and errors, I have finally understood the simple, yet profound link between our gut health and the radiant glow (or frustrating flare-ups) of our skin. Our gut microbiome, also known as our second brain, is not only responsible for digestion, immune system support, and the production of essential nutrients and vitamins; it also communicates directly with our skin!


Why Should We Start Caring For Our Microbiome Today?


Within our gut, trillions of microorganisms play an ongoing game of balance. These tiny warriors break down food, release energy, and, most importantly, keep our skin shining bright like a diamond. But then life happens: stress, processed foods, or even illness can upset this delicate balance. These imbalances frequently result in skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and, of course, acne.


I would like to quickly mention one of the benefits of having skin conditions: seeing something makes it much easier to deal with it before it is too late. Anxiety, poor diet choices, and even the air we breathe or the water we drink all cause toxicity within our bodies. If our bodies are struggling to deal with it and we cannot see it, it is difficult to know it’s there. As this untreated toxicity accumulates and we remain unable to detect it, it may have far-reaching consequences for our health in the future.


There's a clear association between the balance of this microuniverse and the flare-ups on our skin. Even the slightest imbalance has the potential to cause inflammation, which is reflected on our skin as redness, dryness, and sometimes even chronic conditions.


Feed Your Gut, Feed Your Skin


Imagine if everything you ate was directly feeding your skin instead of your stomach. Every bite of a crunchy apple, every refreshing sip of water, and even those blueberries you snack on—they all play a very important role! That’s why including foods rich in prebiotics and probiotics helps create a harmonious environment in your gut, which, in turn, reflects beautifully on your skin. Probiotics introduce 'good' bacteria to the gut, which aids in fighting harmful pathogens. Meanwhile, prebiotics nourish these friendly bacteria, ensuring their growth and dominance. This is what creates harmony within our internal ecosystem, fostering a radiant and resilient skin barrier.


Turn To Nature


As with most things health-related nowadays, it’s very easy to get lost in the ocean of information and misinformation about what’s actually good for you or not. I believe that nature holds the answers to most of our questions, which is why I always choose and recommend what feels like the most simple and natural solution. This is why I would stay away from any probiotic or prebiotic supplements and opt for fresh fruits instead.


If you’re on a relatively healthy version of a vegan or raw vegan diet, then your body should be producing enough probiotics, and you would only need the support of prebiotics, which you can find abundantly in:

  • Bananas

  • Apples

  • Watermelon

  • Grapefruit

  • Pomegranate

If you’re on any other diet, I would recommend you include some high-probiotic foods in your diet, such as:

  • Sauerkraut

  • Kimchi

  • Pickles

  • Miso

  • Tempeh


These, together with the fruits mentioned above, can greatly impact your gut health and, in turn, your skin health. Sometimes, though, it’s the things we already do that have more of an impact on our health, so eliminating toxin-forming foods and habits may be the first step for you. As much as possible, you may try to avoid:

  • Stressful situations

  • Processed foods

  • Alcohol

  • Toxic environments ie. polluted city centres

  • Cleaning your house with chemical agents

  • Drinking unfiltered tap water


A Moment of Reflection


Think back to those days when your skin didn't cooperate. Was it a stressful period? Were you not eating right? You're not alone in this. Our skin usually tells the story of what's happening inside, both physically and emotionally. In my own journey, most of the times my skin shouted with a sudden breakout or dry patch, I knew it was either my gut signalling for help or I was under a lot of pressure. Most of us have faced skin challenges, and sometimes the solution isn't external. It lies in healing from within, starting with our gut.


The Path Ahead


Being aware of how gut health affects your skin is the first step towards having one that is clear and glowing. Believe in your power to change as you are the only one who can initiate true healing. Begin with understanding and feeling compassion for yourself and for your skin. Use words that empower you and present the reality you desire to live in. Embrace a diet that loves you back, indulge in self-care, and stay clear of foods, situations, and people who don’t support you and instead add weight to your shoulders.


Remember, radiant skin starts from within.


If you’re looking to lose excess weight and improve your energy levels while helping your skin shine, Book a Free 15-minute discovery call with me today.




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