Posts Tagged ‘probiotics’
How What We Eat Affects Our Skin
Robynne Chutkan, MD explains how what we put into our bodies affects our skin.
As a gastroenterologist treating GI issues, she finds…. “When I work with people on their diet, whether it’s cutting back on dairy, or switching them from a starchier, sugary processed diet, to a more plant-based way of eating, their skin often clears up.”
And when people have difficult skin disorders, often the solution lies deep in the gut, not in topical treatments.
“Skin disorders like rosacea, which a lot of people confuse with acne is a good example. A lot of people are using harsh things on their skin for this sort of redness on the cheeks and nose. Rosacea’s actually an autoimmune disease and, like most autoimmune diseases, we don’t actually know what causes it, but there’s a very strong association with something called dysbiosis, a bacterial imbalance and overgrowth of the wrong kinds of bacteria in the gut.”
She speaks of the “incredible connection” between the GI tract and the skin, and has published a book – Gutbliss: A 10-Day Plan to Ban Bloat, Flush Toxins, and Dump Your Digestive Baggage – that shows how to create a healthy gut, improve wellness, and give skin a healthy glow.
She says “the skin actually represents the outside of our GI tract.”
You can learn more about Dr. Chutkan’s work in this interview with her by James Hamblin in TheAtlantic.com. I’m ordering the book!
The Beauty Benefits Of Probiotics
Probiotics are bacterial microorganisms that are well-known for their ability to alleviate certain internal issues, such as diarrhea, IBS and lactose intolerance. However, dermatologists and other skin experts have found that their benefits go beyond digestive health. Daily Beauty
This article speaks to the many benefits of ingesting probiotics. It describes how improved intestinal bacteria can reflect in better skin by improving eczema, acne and other conditions, and delivering anti-aging protection. You can read more about the beauty benefits of probiotics at the Daily Beauty site.
It’s also worth noting that bacteria play a crucial role on the skin as well as inside the body. They break down the natural oil we secrete (sebum) and convert it into antiseptic fatty acids that protect us from troublesome microbes. On its own, our sebum has no antiseptic properties.
Here’s a review of a new skincare line devoted to bringing a better class of bugs onto you face. Not a bad idea, actually.
