Did you know there’s a very close relationship between the health of your gut and the health of your skin?

Gut Flora

There are many different microorganisms, including bacteria, that reside in the gut and which are often simply referred to as “flora”. Balanced gastrointestinal (GI) flora provides support for the immune system, nutrient absorption, and removal of toxins from the body through regular healthy bowel movements. Combined, these processes help balance flora on the skin (yes, there’s flora on your skin!), which promotes clear and healthy skin.

What is a flora imbalance?

When your body does not have enough “beneficial” bacteria, “harmful” gut bacteria can thrive and take over the gut environment. Flora imbalances can be caused by poor diet, illness, stress, and use of antibiotics. All of those things show up in the health of the skin: how dry/oily it is, type and severity of acne, and risk for autoimmune-related skin disorders. Symptoms of imbalance can include persistent gas, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea. To maintain or rebalance GI flora, consider adding probiotics to your diet.

Probiotics

Probiotics are live microorganisms (in most cases, bacteria) that are similar to the beneficial microorganisms naturally found in the gut. There are many types of bacteria classified as probiotics. There are so many health benefits to probiotics including:

• boosting the immune system by enhancing the production of antibodies
• supporting the synthesis of vitamins and other nutrients
• providing relief or treatment for constipation, diarrhea and other GI tract illness

When it comes to the skin, keeping the gut flora in balance will:

• help organ systems (including the integumentary system) to efficiently absorb nutrients
• strengthen the immune system
• help clear toxins from the body

You can boost the presence of helpful GI flora by taking one of our carefully selected probiotic supplements as well as eating fermented foods. There are many varieties of probiotics on the market –not all are created equal and some are better suited to different health needs. Douglas and Vanessa can advise you on the type of probiotic supplement that is best for your skincare concerns.

Resources

“Probiotics: What They Are and What They Can Do for You.”

“The Gut Microbiome as a Major Regulator of the Gut-Skin Axis.”

“Signs of Poor Gut Health.”

“Use of probiotics in gastrointestinal disorders: what to recommend?”

“Probiotics and prebiotics: can regulating the activities of the intestinal bacteria benefit health.” 

“Bugs in our Gut: How Probiotics Keep Us Healthy.”