Try these remedies for smooth, healthy skin

By Louise Belle BHSc (Nut Med)

Do you have dry, itchy, scaly or flaking skin? Do you break out in irritating rashes or have weeping sores? Perhaps you suffer from breakouts? Skin problems can be annoying and uncomfortable, can make you self-conscious and interfere with your daily life. Many people try creams or pharmaceuticals to alleviate their skin problems but achieve little relief. Your skin is a reflection of what’s going on inside your body. It is important to address the root cause of the problem and to nourish your body with the correct nutrients in order to improve your skin health.

Common causes of skin problems

  • Poor gut health: If your gut is inflamed, damaged or overrun by pathogenic bacteria, it can show up on your skin. You may not be absorbing important skin-nourishing nutrients very well, and waste products could be leaking from your gut into your blood stream.
  • Sluggish liver: The liver is the major detoxifying organ of the body. When it is sluggish and not filtering efficiently, toxins can build up in the body and can affect the look and health of your skin. Your skin is one of the major pathways used to remove toxins from the body.
  • Immune dysfunction: When your immune system is out of whack, skin can become inflamed or dry. You may have an intolerance to a food or factor in the environment (such as grass) that is causing your skin issues. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes dry, scaly patches on the skin – see the book Healing Autoimmune Disease.
  • Hormonal disorders: Hormonal imbalance is a common cause of acne, such as in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Skin problems can also occur in those with thyroid dysfunction, which is why it is important to explore all avenues if you have skin issues.
  • Deficiencies: Nutrient deficiencies such as zinc, vitamin A, vitamin C and omega 3 are common in those with skin issues. Dehydration (caused by lack of water intake) is another common factor that causes dry skin or may contributes to breakouts.

Try these natural remedies

Ditch the chemicals

Common cleaning and beauty products contain hundreds of nasty chemicals that are very harsh to the skin. Regularly applying these to your body, or using them in your household can cause dry, irritated skin. Switch over to natural, chemical-free alternatives to benefit your skin (and the rest of your body).

Detox your gut

You need to restore the balance of good and bad bacteria in your gut, detox heavy metals and repair damage. Fermented foods, garlic, coriander, aloe vera juice, bone broth, glutamine and chlorella are very beneficial for improving gut health. Ultimate Gut Health powder combines ingredients that detox, repair and restore balance in the gut.

Boost omega 3

A major cause of dry skin is lack of omega 3 fats in the diet. These healthy fats maintain the health of the skin cell membrane by regulating oil production and protecting it from damage. Ensure you eat plenty of fish and other seafood, and chia seeds, flax seeds, hemp seeds and walnuts for vegetarian sources of omega 3.

Calm inflammation

Rashes, pimples or skin redness can be caused by inflammation in the body. It is important to follow an anti-inflammatory style diet, high in fresh fruits and vegetables, fatty fish, nuts and seeds and low in pro-inflammatory foods such as gluten, dairy, sugar and processed foods. Selenium can help to reduce inflammation.

Cleanse your liver

You need to clear out liver congestion and get your liver working efficiently. Eat plenty of cruciferous vegetables, garlic, onion, ginger, turmeric, citrus fruits, berries, beetroot and drink fresh vegetable juices, dandelion tea and water to support your liver pathways. The 15 Day Cleanse program will support your liver in removing toxins, reduce inflammation in the body and heal your gut.

Drink more water

If you are dehydrated, so is your skin. You can test your hydration by squeezing the skin on the back of your hand – if it doesn’t bounce back quickly, you haven’t had enough water. Aim for at least 2 litres of water daily which can include herbal teas.

Apply natural oils

Coconut oil, jojoba oil and sea buckthorn oil (among others) have many soothing and healing properties and can be applied directly to the skin. Essential oils like lavender, patchouli, chamomile may also be beneficial depending on your skin complaint.

Boost collagen

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and is responsible for the skins appearance and elasticity. Vitamin C, MSM and silica are all needed for healthy collagen production in the body, which are combined in Collagen Food powder. It also helps to reduce inflammation in the body (and on the skin) and strengthens the immune system.

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