By now, many of us know that there is an important relationship between the gut and the mind. But many of us are not aware that there is a relationship among the gut, mind and skin—including the skin microbiome. During a recent episode of the Living a Nutritious Life podcast, Whitney Bowe shared some of her world renowned tips and tricks on maintaining healthy skin, which included keeping in mind (catch that one?) the gut.
By balancing cortisol levels (one way to do this is by maintaining optimal stress levels), you will help alleviate inflammation of the gut, helping to keep those good gut microbes humming along doing their good work. Using products that support the microbes on your skin helps maintain clear and glowing skin. This in turn, may help reduce stress too (among other benefits.) See how it all works together?
Breaking it down further for you here:
Balancing Cortisol Levels
Cortisol, the body's most famous stress hormone, impacts nearly every organ system as it mediates the stress response, regulates metabolism, controls inflammation, and supports immune function.
Cortisol levels may be elevated due to certain medications, trauma, pregnancy, depression, dehydration and malnutrition. When cortisol levels rise, the body undergoes various physiological changes. One of those changes may be an increase in oil production, leading to acne and breakouts. This is why we often blame acne on being “stressed out.”
Stress less, is a pillar of a Nutritious Life because managing stress is essential to living a healthy life. If you’re noticing your skin is not giving the glowy silky smooth look you’re aiming for, you may want to consider your stress levels and how you’re actively managing them. You don’t have to become a pro at meditating to reduce stress. You can start slow by doing breathwork five minutes a day or try other ways to mediate stress such as practicing yoga, foam rolling, working massages into your regular routine, or simply going for a walk in nature.
Lowering Inflammation in the Gut
Inflammation is the body’s reaction to stress, like an alarm bell alerting all of your cells to a problem that needs to be fixed right away. Inflammation in the gut refers to many conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), gastritis, and enteritis. Your gut has its own nervous system, called the Enteric Nervous System (ENS), commonly referred to as the second brain. The ENS not only regulates digestion but also sends signals to the brain, meaning your gut and brain are in constant communication. If your gut is inflamed, those signals can be disturbed.
Stress, as mentioned above, leads to increased cortisol levels, which in turn leads to inflammation in the gut which can also cause a lack of nutrient absorption, preventing your skin from getting the proper nutrients it needs.
Applying Products that Support the Microbes on Your Skin
There are trillions of bacteria and other microbes that make up the skin microbiome. This is one of the reasons we think of the skin as our first line of defense—it’s critical in fighting infections, healing wounds, and controlling inflammation. Just as the texture of your skin varies across different parts of your body, so does your skin’s microbiome vary. The microbes on the face are particularly susceptible to changes. When disrupted, it can lead to overgrowth of bacteria that cause acne, eczema, and other skin issues. In order to maintain a healthy skin microbiome, you’ll want to avoid over-sanitizing, especially with antimicrobial products. Yes, that’s why you sometimes hear people say to “wash your hands but don’t use sanitizer.” Also, keep your skin moisturized that will also protect your skin (and overall health!)
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