Toxins Next up is toxins. We are exposed to toxic chemicals in the food that we eat, the air we breathe, and the products we use. It’s inevitable to have exposure to these toxins daily, however, our goal is to minimize exposure and help our body eliminate the toxins efficiently. Toxin exposure can mess with hormones, cause inflammation, impact the immune system, cause gut disturbances, and so much more. When we minimize toxin exposures and have a healthy detox system in place, our gut and skin are so happy. It’s super easy to get overwhelmed in this area, so what I would recommend is to start swapping out 1 product you think could be cleaner. An example could be shampoo, or makeup, or a household cleaner. Do some research and try to determine what a better choice might be.
Pro tip: Check out the Environmental Working Group for lists of products that are lower in toxins and better for our Earth. Specifically, their Skin Deep guide can be helpful to reference!
Gut Health Last up on the list is gut issues. Having a healthy gut and gut microbiome is super important. So many skin issues that may prevent us from feeling beautiful actually stem from problems in the gut – crazy, right? Issues like acne, psoriasis, eczema, atopic dermatitis can often be remedied by promoting a healthy gut ecosystem and reducing inflammation. When we eat excess sugary foods, saturated fats or foods that knowingly cause digestive issues for us, we are promoting inflammation and fueling the “bad” bugs. This causes something known as dysbiosis, or an unfavorable environment in the gut. Thankfully, there are so many therapeutic and beautifying foods that we can eat to enhance our beauty and support our gut! Spoiler alert, they’re mostly plant foods! Plants contribute to the growth of short chain fatty acids which can heal your gut and decrease inflammation.
Pro tip: Regardless if you eat meat or you are vegan, the goal is to increase the amount of polyphenol and antioxidant rich plants foods in your diet. Try to aim for 30 different plants each week.