Do you think your gut and your skin are completely different things? Not after this article! Just as your gut is densely populated with trillions of microorganisms, your skin has some residents too: on about 2 square metres of skin live as many microorganisms as there are people on the whole of Earth. So it makes sense that the microbiota in and on our body are in close contact.
Why are gut and skin connected?
Your skin and your gut are connected via the immune system. The connection between gut and brain, the so-called gut-brain axis, was only discovered recently. Now the gut-skin axis is being researched. For example, studies have already shown that people with very sensitive skin also have a changed gut flora. As you read in the previous post, your gut microorganisms don't just break down nutrients from your meals, they also build their own nutrients. Did you know that hyaluronic acid is one of them, for example? Natural hyaluronic acid acts in the gut and may support gut health, which is also discussed in connection with inflammatory bowel conditions such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. It is also found in many different kinds of connective tissue, where it can bind a lot of water - which helps keep your skin smooth. Vitamin B7, known as biotin, is also produced in the gut and, besides the shine in your hair, is responsible for firm skin!
How to support your gut flora
You can do quite a lot yourself for healthy gut flora and so contribute to a good complexion. For example, try to build enough water or unsweetened tea, plenty of exercise, and fruit and veg into your everyday life. Regular exercise supports digestion, and vitamin-rich fruit and veg give the gut lots of important nutrients. You can also support your gut by turning to pre- and probiotics. Prebiotics are foods that the microorganisms in your gut use as “food” and metabolise. These include fibre-rich foods like wholegrain, psyllium and flaxseed. Not to be confused with probiotics: these are foods that already contain living microorganisms. They include set yoghurt, sauerkraut and other fermented foods.
Fibre for a healthy gut
Your skin doesn't lie!
Your habits, whether unhealthy or healthy, your mood and your physical balance are reflected in your skin, alongside your genetic predisposition.
Blemishes, redness and irritation say a lot about our lifestyle. Besides natural skin ageing, your lifestyle plays a decisive role: your diet and fluid balance, your skincare, stress and sleep habits all affect the condition of your skin. Excessive sun exposure, some medications such as antibiotics and laxatives, as well as alcohol and nicotine have a negative effect on your skin quality.
We at Frank Juice help you change your diet: while nutrient-poor, heavily processed foods often have a negative effect on your skin, the opposite kind of diet can make us glow. How about swapping the gummy bears and chocolate bars in your bag for one of our cold-pressed juices? Antioxidants in fruit and veg, as well as enough fluids, can contribute to a fresher complexion. Did you know that cucumber, for example, which is in our green juices, has a draining effect? This means certain waste products are transported out of your body, which takes some load off your gut and your skin.
Unhealthy eating habits, too much alcohol and too little exercise in the fresh air quickly show in our skin. Dull skin, blemishes and pimples are the result. But we also feel physically unwell when we eat poorly for a while, move too little and spend too little time outdoors.
The fact that both our skin and our gut suffer from unhealthy habits suggests there is a connection between gut and skin. Our nutrition scientist tells you which connections between gut and skin have been demonstrated so far and what you can do for your gut flora and clear skin.
The connection between gut and skin
Did you know that your skin and your gut are connected via the immune system? The connection between gut and brain, the so-called gut-brain axis, has already been proven by science. Today, research is looking at what role the connection between gut and skin, the gut-skin axis, plays in our body. Studies have already shown that people with very sensitive skin also have an altered gut flora. As you may already know from our blog article on a healthy gut, the microorganisms in your gut not only break down nutrients from your meals, they also build their own nutrients. Did you know this includes hyaluronic acid, for example? Natural hyaluronic acid works in the gut and can protect against inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. It also occurs in many different types of connective tissue and can bind a great deal of water, which keeps your skin wrinkle-free. Vitamin B7, known as biotin, is also produced in the gut and, besides the shine in your hair, is responsible for firm skin!
How to support your gut flora
There's quite a lot you can do yourself for a healthy gut flora, and in doing so contribute to good-looking skin. For example, try to build enough water or unsweetened organic tea as well as plenty of exercise and fruit and vegetables into your everyday life. Regular exercise promotes digestion, and vitamin-rich fruit and vegetables give the gut lots of important nutrients. You can also support your gut by turning to pre- and probiotics. Prebiotics are foods that the microorganisms in the gut use as "food" and metabolise. These include fibre-rich products such as wholegrain, psyllium and flaxseed. Not to be confused with probiotics: these are foods that already contain live microorganisms. They include set yoghurt, sauerkraut and other fermented foods.
You can proactively do something for clear skin!
Your habits, whether unhealthy or healthy, your stress level and your physical balance are reflected in your skin, alongside your genetic predisposition.
Blemishes, redness and irritation say a lot about our lifestyle. Besides natural skin ageing, your lifestyle plays a decisive role: your diet and fluid balance, your skincare, stress and sleep habits all influence the condition of your skin. Excessive sun exposure, some medications such as antibiotics and laxatives, as well as alcohol and nicotine, have a negative effect on your skin quality.
How juice fasting supports your skin
We know that we're not always responsible ourselves for skin blemishes and an uneven complexion. Genetics can play a role too, and that simply can't be influenced.
Still, a healthy, nutrient-rich diet can promote clear skin. While refined sugar and short-chain carbohydrates from white flour have a negative effect on your skin, the antioxidants in fruit and vegetables, as well as enough fluid, can help you get a fresher-looking complexion.
Juice fasting can be your kick-start into changing your diet. Did you know, for example, that the cucumber in our green juices has a dehydrating effect? This helps carry waste products out of your body and so takes the strain off your gut and your skin.
We've summarised in a blog post exactly how a juice cleanse can affect your skin. Definitely worth a read!
frank Care is Self Care. Everything about bath bombs, dry brushing and oil pulling!
While a juice cleanse gives your gut a break and can help you change your diet and say goodbye to unhealthy eating habits, bath bombs, dry brushing and oil pulling are another way to influence your skin and your gut.
If you haven't heard of frank Care yet, listen up. Soon our bundle will include a handmade organic bath bomb with precious shea butter and almond oil, a dry brush made of beechwood with a perfectly balanced bristle hardness, and an oil pulling blend made of lemon oil and lemongrass oil.
And because we are 100% convinced by our frank Care concept, we want to explain how it affects your physical wellbeing.
The organic bath bomb from frank
Whether you use it during your juice cleanse or beyond, as a weekly self care ritual: the organic bath bomb from frank is perfect for a feel-good moment in the bathtub. Shea butter and almond oil leave your skin feeling smooth and work against dryness.
Get your lymph moving with the frank dry brush
Not only is the dry brush made of Black Forest beechwood an absolute winner in terms of sustainability, its perfectly balanced bristle hardness also helps you gently brush away old skin flakes, rough patches and ingrown hairs in future. Regular dry brushing gives your skin a softer feel and stimulates the lymphatic system. It also promotes firmer-looking skin and may help against water retention.
The lymphatic system is responsible for carrying away waste products as well as excess fluid.
There is only one thing to keep in mind when dry brushing: always brush towards the heart. For the best result, we recommend brushing each area 5 times and then moving on with the brush.
Dry brushing for five minutes a day can show in your skin in a short time.
Oil pulling with the frank oil pulling blend
While a relaxing bath with a fragrant bath bomb and regular dry brushing mainly affect your skin, the third product in our frank Care set is relevant for your oral health and therefore also your gut flora.
Oil pulling has been used for decades in cleansing practices following Ayurveda. It is said to have a cleansing effect and to stimulate the oral mucosa. Pulling oil through your mouth is also said to make the oil absorb pollutants found in food, which you then spit out together. Pure oils, like the lemon oil and lemongrass oil in our oil pulling blend, have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Regular oil pulling may support oral health and overall health.
The Self-Care Bundle will be waiting for you in our shop soon! Whether for your juice cleanse or beyond as everyday self care, the bundle is sure to bring you lots of joy.
