Diversify Your gut microbes are linked to pro and anti inflammatory activity in your digestive system, according to recent research published in the journal Gut. This is strongly influenced by what you eat, with researchers finding inflammatory bacteria known as Clostridium bolteae and Lachnospiraceae in people who included meat, french fries, mayonnaise and soft drinks in their diet. And what you don’t eat matters, too. If your diet lacks fibre, pro-inflammatory bacteria feed on and damage your gut lining, say the scientists, in turn, influencing the health and appearance of your skin. The solution? “Current research suggests the more diverse your gut microbiome, the healthier and the stronger it is,” says Eve. “If you have less diversity or imbalances in your gut microbiome it can manifest in skin symptoms and conditions such as eczema and acne.”
Take action: Focus on foods that are rich in vitamins A, C and E, as these are key nutrients to support gut health and skin. Aim to include eggs (if not vegan) sweet potato, butternut squash, carrots, leafy greens, spinach, broccoli, nuts and seeds in your diet.Build immunity With so much of your immunity dependent on a healthy gut, when your microbiome is out of balance, your immune system will be, too, according to the latest science. Last year, researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York identified specific gut bacteria linked to with both higher and lower levels of immunity, and even tracked how the daily changes in patients’ gut microbiome corresponded to the number of immune cells in their blood. “Your gut and skin microbiomes have a lot in common,” says Shona Wilkinson, nutritionist for Dr.Vegan (drvegan.com ) “when healthy, they’re both packed with mast cells, which form a first line of defence for your immune system.” If your gut-mediated immunity is out of balance, however, it can cause problems, such as eczema flare-ups.
Take action: A good way to support your gut’s immune function is to increase your prebiotic intake. Eat more fermented foods such as sauerkraut or kefir, or you could drink kombucha. You’ll also need to avoid alcohol and refined foods and, if you take antibiotics, make sure you replace the microbiota with a probiotic supplement afterwards.
