Products are independently selected by our editors.
We may earn an affiliate commission from links.
For as long as I can remember, my skin has been naturally rosy.
Mary Fix / Gallery Stock
My childhood photos show little ruddy cheeks, and I always wore full-coverage foundation at school.
At 28, I was diagnosed withrosaceaa relatively common skin condition that causes flushing and a somewhat rough texture.
More recently, Ive hit upon another game-changer.
I spoke to several experts and ultimately overhauled my diet in a bid to improve my gut health.
Below, Ive taken all the advice I was given and compiled a beginners guide to the gut-skin connection.
The gut-skin-brain connection
My first port of call wasDr.
We were one of the first brands to talk about the skin microbiome and healing inflammation, she said.
Over the last four years, though, weve seen the evolution of research into the gut-skin-brain axis.
For a total beginner like me, how could I begin to make positive changes?
I asked Dr. Drago if I could repair or cleanse my gut.
Emptying everything is not the way, the idea is to care and support, she told me.
Just like you take care of your garden, youre not burning everything down and starting from scratch again.
Instead, Dr. Drago recommended a simple approach.
Eat 30 different nuts, fruits vegetables, cereals, and spices per week, she said.
The more diverse your food is, the more diverse your gut microbiome is going to be.
Diversity, like in every ecosystem, breeds resilience and health.
To understand more, Dr. Drago suggested I listen toThe Gut Stuffpodcast.
Another trusted friend,Dr.
Alcohol and sugar are not great for the gut barrier, she told me.
Im not saying you cant eat cake or have a drink, but its something to be mindful of.
If you feel like you need a snack, stick to something simple.
Think yogurt with blueberries and flaxseeds.
These things are also great for your gut.
And, what do you know?
Ive got SIBO, the small intestine bacterial overgrowth that came up time and time again in my research.
Since cutting out dairy, my digestion is calmer and my skin texture is noticeably smoother.
Granted, I have since reintroduced some gluten, but its significantly less than before.
