What do wrinkles, acne,
psoriasis, eczema, and dull
skin all have in common?
Your gut! Yes, the whole digestive track,
from your mouth to your colon, is the primary
cause of many common skin disorders.
Leaky gut, a relatively new condition
mainly recognized in the alternative world,
has been leading researchers to discover
new underlying causes for the conditions in
skin that cause vitiligo, tinea versicolor, psoriasis,
eczema, rashes, acne, and even aging
such as lines and wrinkles.
So, what is a leaky gut, you may ask. It is a
not so fancy name for intestinal permeability.
Intestinal permeability is a condition occurring
when the walls of the intestine become
thin and therefore cannot effectively
filter. The intestine needs to allow small particles
of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids
to pass into the bloodstream. This is how
you absorb the nutrients your body needs
to function. However, with intestinal permeability,
waste particles, food particles, proteins,
allergens, and toxic materials formed
by bacteria escape and make their way into
the bloodstream.
As these particles circulate through the
body three very serious side effects occur.
First, inflammation happens, which can
immediately flare rashes, and psoriasis.
Second, the immune system becomes completely
compromised, which means it starts
attacking your own body. Having a compromised
immune system is overall a huge
concern for health, but primarily for skin
issues, it is known to cause psoriasis and
vitiligo. Third, elimination of toxins, which
is critical for your body, gets interrupted.
If the intestinal tract isn’t performing this
function, then the skin is the next organ of
elimination. Many of the acne patients that
I see have significant improvement, sometimes
within days, just from supporting the
gut health. Their acne and scars disappear!
Some estimates say that close to 20%
of you are walking, or should I say leaking
around with intestinal permeability. Medications
such as antibiotics, ibuprofen, aspirin,
and antacids can cause leaky gut. So
can caffeine, stress, additives in processed
foods, and food allergies. You
can probably raise your hand
to at least one of the above.
Another cause in my opinion
are the very controversial
grains. Some scientists and doctors are
starting to report that grains should not
be part of our diet at all. We also are now
beginning to realize that most grains aren’t
digested because they aren’t treated properly
before eating. Most grains are treated
with over 30 chemicals, making your sandwich
a highly processed food. Eating highly
processed food is a direct cause of leaky gut.
So, how do you know if your leaking is
causing your skin problems? Well, some of
the other effects include memory loss, fatigue,
joint inflammation, digestive issues,
abdominal pain, bloating, brain/emotional
disorders, and much more. If you have been
dealing with any of these symptoms and
have a skin condition, look at healing your
gut. The GAPS, or Gut And Psychology Syndrome
diet is a good starting place for information.
The first place I like to start with my
patients is healing the gut. My favorite way
to do this is with bone broths. Yup, bone
broths! No fancy, expensive medication or
treatment plan, just simple, traditional food.
Bone broth or meat stock is rich in gelatin
and amino acids that not only heal, but actually
strengthen connective tissue of the gut.
Gelatin is also great for building collagen.
Every line and wrinkle you have is a result
of loss of collagen, so here is a great way to
reverse them. If you need help with recipes
check out Sally Fallon Morell’s cookbook
Nourishing Traditions. Or, come visit me at
Nourishe, I’ll be more than happy to bring
you home with me for a cooking lesson. WestonAPrice.org is a great resource for healing
your body with traditional foods, such
as bone broth, meat stock, and healthy fats.
Celebrities are even catching on. In
the November 2012 issue of Harper’s Bizarre
Selma Hayek, 46, credits eating fat
with helping her avoid Botox, and looking
healthy and young. For the next 9 tips on
healing your gut and healing your skin join
me at nourishemedispa.com. See you there.
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