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Good Bacteria For Healthy Skin by Paula Simpson
$15.95 US/$7.88 Kindle
The term "microbiome" is the hot new word this year, and it should be. Our microbiome is what protects us from pathogens and helps keeps us healthy. With the use of prebiotics and probiotics, our body stays in tip top condition and actually can take care of itself, without much need from us to interfere. All we have to do is eat the right foods.
The term microbiome comes from the meaning that we as humans have living organisms on our body that are way too small for the naked eye to see and these organisms helps keep our body in check. They are microbes, that coexist in symbiosis with each other to help our body stay in a state of homeostasis. This means that essentially everything is going along well.
It all starts in the intestines with the good bacteria that live in our gut. If we did not have these bacteria, our food would not digest well, we would get yeast infections (called thrush) and we would get sick. The same goes for our skin. We have a micobiome on our skin too. It needs to be taken care of or our skin breaks out, becomes ill and the skin becomes red and inflamed or has fungal infections, eczema, dandruff, acne, etc. Stress often puts our body's microbiome to the test and helps to make it dysfunction. That is why people who are stressed out get sick so much easier. Nutrition plays a key role in this case because you are essentially what you eat. So if you are stressed out or having issues, make sure to eat a diet high in prebiotics and probiotics. This includes yogurt and Kefir. Also eat foods that are high in antioxidants, such as berries and dark green or red vegetables.
How do you keep your skin healthy? Good question! That is essentially what this book is about. Now that we have started with the intestines lets move to the skin. First, make sure you wear sunscreen daily (even in the winter and when it is cloudy outside). You may think that when it is cloudy the UV rays are not getting through but they are. A broad spectrum SPF of 30, preferably a mineral one, is essential to keeping skin looking good and helping to keep the microbiome in place. Also, find a gentle cleanser, like Dove or one that protects the natural moisture barrier. That is something that will help. Protect the skin from free radicals with antioxidants, such as Vitamin C and E. Collagen peptides are good for strengthening skin and helping to firm it. Then finally we have prebiotics and probiotics, which are now becoming more common in skincare products.
Most probiotics tend to fall into the category of ingredients from lactic acid producing foods, such as yogurt and fermented milk. They help stabilize the intestines, detoxify/neutralize the bad bacteria and help restore the good pH level of the vagina. They are also great for the immune system.
Prebiotics are dietary fiber found in fruits, vegetables and legumes. They offer bacteria that is found through the process of fermentation. When consumed as food, they help provide a source of fuel for the microbes in the intestines. By increasing your intake of fiber, you increase your intake of prebiotics.
When you have an imbalance of both of these in your system, you could easily have a chronic skin condition, such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, sensitive or reactive skin, thrush, rosacea or dandruff. A lack of these can also speed up photoaging. When looking for skincare that has prebiotics or probiotics in it, try to make sure they or all natural or organic. Also, make sure there is an expiration date on the label. One prebiotic to look for is oligosaccharide. A probiotic to look for is lactobacillus. Supplements are good too. Currently there are many products on the market, supplements and skincare products to choose from.
The author, Paula Simpson is a holistic beauty expert who has integrated her expertise in biochemistry, nutrition, natural health and beauty to drive innovation within the medical, wellness and personal care sectors. With global recognition as a formulation expert for nutrition-based skincare (nutricosmetics,) Paula has dedicated her time in innovating and educating both the medical aesthetic and personal care industries on the importance of nutrition to promote healthy skin and natural beauty. She has combined her scientific and holistic background to create some of the most successful nutricosmetic and beauty wellness brands available today. Regularly sought-after as an expert, she has contributed her time to programs including E! News, Entertainment Tonight, MSNBC, Good Morning America, KTLA, ABC and Fox News and publications with Allure, Alternative Medicine, Huffington Post, InStyle, Mindbodygreen, New Beauty Magazine, PopSugar, Readers Digest, Refinery 29, Rodale Organic Life and more.
Until Next Time~
Marie Papachatzis
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