Skinspiration ... Do you have a happy gut?

by Nicole Webb

*Disclaimer; All work produced in this skinspiration blog is owned by Nicole Webb, with copyrights to La Beauté Ltd.

 

Do you have a happy gut or an unhappy gut? 
 

In this skinspiration we give you the tools to determine if you have an imbalanced or unhappy gut. 
 
There are specific tests that you can order from specialised laboratories that are able to analyze your stools, breath or hair to determine your gut health but there are also some simple red flags to look out for which will guide you and help determine your gut health. 
 
If you identify with two or more of the following symptoms then it is a VERY good indication that your gut health needs attention ASAP!
  • You suffer from skin challenges, such as acne, eczema or perioral dermatitis
If you have a high portion of bad bacteria in your gut then the substances that they manufacture will drive up inflammation in the body which in-turn can create irritation in your skin.  All inflammatory skin conditions have a direct link with the gut and therefore the gut health must be taken into consideration when working with these skin conditions.
  • You are constipated
If you don’t have a bowel movement every day then this is a tell-tale sign that your gut is unhappy. 
Removing toxins and waste from the digestive tract is an important part of maintaining a healthy gut environment. When these toxins and waste are not regularly removed your body will reabsorb them, which creates inflammation, irritation and overall unhealthy well-being.
  • You have loose stools, diarrhoea, bloating or excessive gas
These are also a clear indication that all is not well in your gut. These symptoms can be a sign of a damaged gut wall or imbalance in the microbe population in your gut. 
  • You often feel out of sorts 
If you are irritable, anxious, depressed or you simply struggle to think clearly, then your gut health may be part of the problem. The microbes in your gut influence the production of a wide range of neurotransmitters that affect mood. Cultivating a happy gut can make a noticeable difference to your thought processes and feelings.
  • You love sugar and carbs
Some bad microbes in our gut love sugar and refined carb. In fact, some research suggests that bad microbes are so clever that they drive our craving for particular foods, specifically the food they like! The best approach is to completely starve your bad microbes by cutting out all sugary foods, otherwise you must counteract the bad microbes by increasing your good microbes. 
  • You are often sick
Did you know that your gut is the classroom for your immune system? Microbes are responsible for teaching and regulating immune cells as they mature. 90% of our immune system is found surrounding the gut therefore poor gut health = poor immunity. 
  • You’ve recently been on antibiotics 
Antibiotics can sometimes be a cause of poor gut health as although they are necessary to fight an infection, they also kill our beneficial good microbes. Without the support of a quality probiotic to replace good bacteria and fungi being killed by the antibiotics it will take a very long time for our micro-biome to recover, leading to a long time with bad gut health.
How many symptoms did you identify with?? 
As I have already stated if you identify with 2 or more of the above points then I highly recommend looking at sorting out your gut health.
My first steps in doing this is;
  • Taking a pro-biotic / pre-biotic / digestive support - I personally have found "Bestow Gut Love" the best available
  • Consuming bone broth
  • Drinking Kombucha
  • Talk with us on other ways to help you gut health.
Back to Skinspiration