Here’s something new: it’s no longer bad manners to talk about what’s going on inside our tummies. Research now confirms that if we pay attention to the health of our gut, we can prevent breakouts, redness, dullness, inflammation and toxic build-up in our skin. Sounds good. But how can we improve gut health, fast?
READ MORE: 3 Delicious Snacks That Are Great For Your Gut
And what exactly is the connection between the gut and our skin? We ask the experts to shed some light on what’s going on inside. Here, seven ways to keep your gut happy and your skin glowing…
Eat a wide range of food
Especially vegetables, fruit, seeds, legumes and fibre-rich carbohydrates to stimulate different strains of good bacteria.
Get into fermented
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Yoghurt, sauerkraut and kefir contain good bacteria lactobacilli, which help reduce the risk of disease.
Limit sweeteners
Research shows artificial sweeteners increase blood sugar by stimulating the growth of unhealthy bacteria in the gut.
READ MORE: 9 Signs You Could Be Suffering From Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Take a supplement
Particularly when your skin is looking blah, a probiotic supplement ensures you’re giving your gut a healthy dose of live bacteria.
Stock your plate with prebiotics
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Think artichokes, bananas, asparagus, oats and apples.
Embrace whole grains
With loads of fibre and beta glucan, whole grains will encourage good bacteria to flourish.
READ MORE: These 4 Things Can Help Your Gut Bacteria – And They’re Not Probiotics
Focus on polyphenols
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Plant compounds found in red wine, green tea, dark chocolate and olive oil, polyphenols help boost healthy bacterial growth.
