Digest This! Listen to Your Skin

We have all heard that old saying: it doesn’t matter what’s on the outside — it’s what’s on the inside that counts. This statement couldn’t be more true when it comes to your beauty and your health.

There are four ways in which the body rids itself of waste: the colon, kidneys, lungs, and skin. Our skin reflects our internal health and tells us what is going on inside our bodies.

Nutrition is Always First

The health and appearance of your skin is determined by the nourishment it receives from the blood. The skin’s underlayer, or dermis, is made up of collagen (protein). Our skin needs fats, proteins, and carbohydrates to remain healthy and vibrant.

This is where digestive enzymes come in. Enzymes determine which nutrients will be available for skin nourishment. If you have an enzyme deficiency, these nutrients stay locked inside the foods you eat and exit the body undigested. The skin becomes undernourished, weak, and susceptible to problems.

Skin eruptions are our bodies’ way of detoxifying when other systems aren’t efficiently doing so. When our main detox pathways — colon and kidneys — are sluggish, the skin steps up as a backup detox channel.

Foods for Healthy Skin

• Fresh organic vegetables: red and green peppers, broccoli, cucumbers, kale, and squash
• Fresh organic fruits: apples, oranges, grapes, melons, berries, pineapple, and bananas
• Healthy fats: avocado, almonds, walnuts, flax seeds, olive oil, and cold water fish such as salmon
• Clean protein meats: organic, grass-fed, antibiotic and hormone-free
• Whole grains rather than processed, refined foods
• Water, water, and more water — aim for at least half of your body weight in ounces a day

Treat your gut well, and your skin will thank you!