We use lotions, face washes, scrubs, toners, even prescriptions to try to improve the appearance of our skin. What if your skin routine didn't need to be so complicated? What if what really improved your skin isn't what you put on your skin, but what you put in your body?
Skin needs to be nourished from the inside out. The only way to get rid of acne isn't by stripping it of it's natural oils and cleaning it into submission. Acne, pimples and rashes are a sign that something is out of balance in your body.
What can cause skin problems?
Digestive issues
Many studies show a strong correlation between acne and gut problems. People with acne have a 10X greater chance of having bacteria imbalances in their gut such as small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). When this is corrected acne usually clears up as well. If you want to heal your skin you have to heal your gut!
Leaky gut is another common cause of acne and pimples. Leaky gut occurs when the intestinal wall becomes permeable (leaky) and particles leak from your intestine into the bloodstream. This causes inflammation and allergies. This inflammation affects the whole body, including the skin.
Gut flora (bateria in the intestines) affects the skin as well. Ideally a healthy person would have a large amount of "good" bacteria and not too many of the "bad" bacteria. People with digestion dysfunction usually have a bacteria imbalance. Taking a high quality probiotic can improve skin health along with eating fermented foods, like sauerkraut and kombucha.
Hormone imbalances
Hormones can be balanced through proper nutrition. Oil production is also determined by hormone levels.
Nutrition Deficiencies
Every cell in your body is nourished by what you eat. Your cells only perform as well as the fuel they are given. Things like eczema, inflammation and redness can be caused by nutrition deficiencies such as minerals, fatty acids and even cholesterol.
External Irritation
Using lotions and washes that are full of chemicals and strip your skin of its natural oils every day makes it impossible for your skin to be balanced and healthy. When it comes to skin care less is more.
What can you start doing today to heal your skin?
1. Eat More Fat! (The right kinds)
Essential Fatty Acids are incredibly important for skin health. This fat is found in fish and some grass fed meats. It would be ideal to get it from food sources, but if that isn't possible on a regular basis start supplementing with fermented cod liver oil. Green Pasture makes a high quality Cod Liver Oil: Fermented Cod Liver Oil . Getting your essential fatty acids will make a huge difference in your skin health.
Eliminate all processed fats and oils like canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil and margarine. The amount of processing these oils have to go through to become an "oil" is astounding. Canola oil is extracted from rapeseed. It is made by heating the seed, crushing it and extracting the oil using hexane. Hexane is a chemical made from crude oil. If it takes this much processing to make an "edible" oil, it is no longer food in my book. In the past canola oil was used as a lubricant, fuel and soap. It is an industrial oil that is now used as "food". The body doesn't know how to digest these types of oils. Avoid them, your skin will thank you.
2. Eliminate refined sugars
Refined sugars cause a spike in blood sugar levels. Blood sugar dysregulation can lead to hormonal imbalance. Hormone balance is a big factor for skin health. Refined sugars can also cause digestive dysfunction. A healthy gut = healthy skin. Remove all refined sugars and baked treats. If possible remove all refined grain flours as well. This will help to regulate blood sugar and heal your gut. This can be the hardest thing for most people. I recommend doing this in small steps. Eliminate soda and baked treats first and then keep eliminating from there.
3. Consume Bone Broth
Bone broth is great for creating clearer skin and also reducing wrinkles. Wrinkles happen when the collagen in your skin begins to break down. Bone broth is rich in collagen. Joints, cartilage, tendons, ligaments and bones contain collagen. When boiled bone broth is also a great source of gelatin which is very healing to the digestive tract. Broth is loaded with minerals as well. Sulfur is the most important mineral for the skin. Getting enough sulfur in your diet can dramatically improve skin clarity. Many people are very deficient in sulfur so this can be a very common cause of acne and uneven skin tone.
4. Go Natural with Beauty Products
Switch up your beauty products! Stop using products that strip your skin of all it's natural oils. Wash your face with water and a natural soap. I personally love African Black Soap and sometimes just water. For moisturizer use coconut oil or beef tallow. Most lotions you buy at the store contain lots of chemicals and harsh ingredients. If you wouldn't feel comfortable drinking your lotion you shouldn't put it on your skin. That sounds a little dramatic, but many studies have shown that your skin absorbs 60% to 100% of products applied to it. Using natural products on the skin will over time improve skin health and your overall health.
5. Get More Sleep
This really has to do with hormones...again. Lack of sleep causes excess cortisol (stress hormone) to be released. This can exacerbate any inflammatory skin conditions like acne or psoriasis. Ideally you should be getting deep sleep, in a dark room without any electronics on.
6. Eat Organ Meats
Organ meats, especially liver is rich in Vitamin A. Vitamin A is a very important vitamin especially for people with skin issues. Liver is the most nutrient dense source of Vitamin A. You cannot supplement your way to Vitamin A sufficiency. Vitamin A in supplements is not easily absorbed by the body. Also, it is important to get organ meats from a good grass-fed source so that toxins are not concentrated in the organs. Traditionally people ate all the parts of the animal. Muscle meat does not have as many vitamins as organ meat does. Liver is one of the most nutrient dense foods in the world. Most Americans are a little reluctant to eat organ meats. Try liver pate as a way to ease into organ eating. Here's a easy pate recipe from Diane Sanfillippo: Chicken Liver Pate Recipe .
7. Egg Yolks
Egg Yolks contain cholesterol and that is actually a GREAT thing! Cholesterol is essential for hormone production. Having your hormones in check will lead to clearer skin and mood stabilization. Stop skipping the yolks! They are packed with essential nutrients and taste much better than the flavorless whites.
No comments:
Post a Comment