I’m a strong believer that true beauty starts from within and how we choose to nourish our bodies with nutrients everyday. 

As the body’s largest organ, your skin acts as a mirror to reflect your internal wellbeing. The gut/skin connection is a powerful one – what happens in your gut can have a big impact on the health and appearance of your skin. 

In fact, studies have shown that a balanced gut microbiome is linked to a clearer, more radiant complexion1. Read on for my top tips to elevate the way you care for your complexion from the inside out…

• Amp up your intake of antioxidant-rich foods, including vitamin C: Think berries, citrus fruits, tomatoes, and greens such as broccoli. These protect and nourish your skin cells for a lit-from-within glow! In particular, Vitamin C supports our body’s natural collagen production and fights free radical damage. 

• Enjoy omega-3 rich fish in your diet: Oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids also have anti-inflammatory properties and also help to support skin hydration. Don’t eat fish? Consider supplementing with a quality fish oil made with EPAs and DHAs. 

• Feed your gut microbiota with fibre-rich plant foods: Reach for legumes, wholegrains such as rolled oats, and fruit and veggies (with the skin on!). Eating a diverse range of plant foods helps to support gut health, natural detoxification pathways, and in turn, our skin health. 

• Incorporate a variety of nuts and seeds into your diet: Think walnuts, brazil nuts, chia seeds, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, and hemp seeds. Not only are these quality fat sources, but they are also packed with vitamins and minerals such as vitamin E and zinc, which support skin health. 

• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate: Our skin is a thirsty organ! Aim for 2-3 litres of water daily. Include hydrating fruits and vegetables into your diet such as watermelon, cucumber and celery. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day keeps your complexion supple and firm! 

• A daily dose of hydrolysed Marine Collagen: Hydrolysed Marine Collagen supports and maintains collagen health and formation, skin elasticity and hydration. Just a scoop a day of our JSHealth Vitamins Pure Marine Collagen powder provides you with complexion-loving collagen peptides in a flavour that goes undetected by your tastebuds (put it in anything!), with benefits noticed by your skin. 

References: 

1. Salem, I., Ramser, A., Isham, N. and Ghannoum, M.A. (2018). The Gut Microbiome as a Major Regulator of the Gut-Skin Axis. Frontiers in Microbiology, [online] 9(9). doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.01459.