Fix Your Gut to Improve Your Skin and Mental Health

The gut is now called the second brain because it has its own nervous system, the enteric nervous system (ENS). The ENS majorly controls digestion but also greatly impacts your skin, mood, health, and thought process. The ENS has numerous microorganisms, nerves, and neurotransmitters that help it perform its functions.

The microorganisms in the gut are collectively called the gut microbiota. The gut microbiota consists of good and bad microorganisms that perform a wide range of health functions. They even help to keep the skin healthy as the microorganisms present in the gut have a positive impact on the skin’s microbiome. 

However, sometimes the microorganisms in the gut can be more than the good ones and this causes an imbalance in the gut’s microbiota. An imbalance in the gut’s microbiota reverses all its functions and causes serious health issues like diabetes, obesity, gastrointestinal disorders, skin conditions, and even cancer.

What are Probiotics and Prebiotics?

Probiotics are good microorganisms that are present in the gut. These microorganisms are majorly bacteria ( of the group Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium ) and yeast ( of the group Saccharomyces boulardii ). Probiotics can also be found in some foods, supplements, and even beauty products. 

Here at The Beauty Doctrine our favorite pick would have to be Zuma Nutrition's Multi-Strain Probiotic Complex. This amazing dietary supplement contains clinically studied strains of beneficial gut bacteria, rebalances the gut's microbiome, improves your digestion and metabolism, as well as supports overall gut health. And as if that wasn't enough these supplements are 100% vegan, formulated with organic ingredients, and pesticides-free.

Prebiotics, on the other hand, are special fibers that the body cannot digest. They serve as food for the gut microbiota (or probiotics) and help them grow. The degradation of these prebiotics helps to produce short-chain fatty acids. When short-chain fatty acids are released into the bloodstream, they positively affect the gastrointestinal tract and other distant organs.

The best all in one dietary supplement we recommend is Ritual Gut Health Synbiotic+. This fabulous supplement contains a powerful blend of probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics. This one capsule daily capsule is ideal for those that find it a hassle to take multiple supplements, this offers you simple, streamlined gut support.

For those that want a supplement that enhances their beauty from the inside out while simultaneously maintaining a healthy gut, Mukti Bioactive Collagen Booster is the ideal choice! A natural beauty formulation that replenishes and stimulates the body’s own collagen production, thus leaving you with stronger and healthier hair, skin, and nails. This incredible supplement contains Jerusalem Artichoke which contains Inulin, a well-known probiotic, found in Jerusalem artichoke root. The  benefits it provides includes the recovery of gastrointestinal strength and calcium assimilation as well as being advantageous to the influence of lipid metabolism, which declines in the risk of many health challenges. 

Another great way of incorporating prebiotics into your diet is by consuming foods that naturally contain probiotics and are rich in prebiotics helps to balance the gut microbiota. Consequently, these probiotic and prebiotic foods help to keep the skin and mood in check.

The Best Probiotic Foods

• Yogurt

Yogurt is a yummy food that has a lot of nutritional benefits. Unsurprisingly, it is very rich in probiotics. This is because yogurt is gotten from milk that has been fermented by probiotic bacteria. It is important to consume high quality yogurt from cows that are pasture-raised, grass-fed and hormone-free.

It should be noted that not all yogurts are rich in probiotics. Some have been over-processed and made with a lot of sugar, making the probiotics present in them die. Therefore, it is important to read the labels of yogurts and be sure that they contain live culture (that is, probiotics).

Yogurt rich in probiotics helps to control blood pressure, improves gastrointestinal health, helps bowel movement, and supplies nutrients to the bones.

• Sour Pickles

Sour pickles go through a natural fermentation process by probiotic bacteria that improve gut health when consumed. Pickles help with digestion, protect against gastrointestinal diseases, and help to keep the gut microbiota in check.

Pickles that have had vinegar introduced into their fermentation process do not contain these probiotics. 

• Kimchi

Kimchi is a traditional Korean dish that is made with vegetables (often cabbage), garlic, ginger, chili pepper, salt, and fish sauce. This mix is left to undergo fermentation by probiotic bacteria. After the process of fermentation, it comes out tasting tangy, spicy, and fragrant.

Kimchi helps to prevent obesity, improve gut health, fight cancer, treat diabetes, and improve gut health. It also has anti-aging properties and promotes immune and brain health. Kimchi also adds a lot of benefits to the skin and promotes skin health. 

• Buttermilk

Buttermilk is also another product of fermented milk. What makes it different from yogurt is that while yogurt undergoes further processing (churning) after fermentation, buttermilk does not. 

Buttermilk treats acne, fades hyperpigmentation, cleanses and tones the skin, and makes it (the skin) glow. It also lowers cholesterol levels, strengthens the bones, fights constipation, and lowers blood pressure levels. 

The Best Prebiotic Foods

• Chicory Root

Chicory is a plant from the dandelion family. Its roots are rich in inulin, a prebiotic fiber. However, its leaves can also be eaten like celery and have a lot of nutritional benefits.

As a result of the presence of inulin in them, chicory roots treat constipation, improve immune health, help with weight loss, and prevent diabetes. It calms and soothes the skin, fades fine lines and wrinkles, and improves skin elasticity.

• Garlic

 Garlic is popular because of its health benefits and the wonderful flavor it adds to meals. It contains fiber that gut microbiota use for their growth and it prevents the growth of harmful bacteria in the gut. It also clears acne and gives the skin a clear and even tone.

To enjoy these benefits of garlic, it is best to eat it raw.

• Bananas

Bananas are packed with a lot of nutrients. They contain vitamins, minerals, and prebiotic fibers (like inulin). Bananas increase the production of collagen, make the skin soft and supple, and brighten the skin. They also manage blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure levels and prevent obesity.

• Flaxseed

Flaxseeds are commonly eaten on their own or included in other dishes because they are very nutritious. They protect against cancer, improve gastrointestinal health, slow down digestion, regulate bowel movement, and prevent constipation.

Flaxseeds also help to keep the skin nourished, moisturized, and hydrated.

• Oats

Apart from the other numerous benefits of oats, they also contain prebiotic fibers that improve gut health. They aid the growth of good gut microbiota, lower high cholesterol, and blood sugar levels, help in weight loss, and prevent cancer.

Conclusion

Your gut health/gut microbiota has a big role in your general well-being. In fact, scientists believe that the gut microbiota of a healthy person is entirely different from the gut microbiota of an ill person.

Incorporating the probiotic and prebiotic foods listed in this article into your daily diet goes a long way in fixing your gut, skin, and mood.

It is important to read the ingredient list of the probiotic foods mentioned in this article and make sure they contain live cultures. This is because most stores do not sell the ones that have probiotic benefits.

Be well. Be safe. Be beautiful.