Here’s the truth: When it comes to skin health, what’s happening on the outside is a reflection of what’s happening on the inside. The signs of beauty—such as clear skin, bright eyes and lustrous hair—are a reflection of inner health. As a clinical nutritionist with a holistic approach, my philosophy revolves around wholesome nutrition, in addition to lifestyle principles, stress-reducing exercises and giving the body all of the minerals, nutrients and vitamins it needs to thrive. Here are five ways to improve your skin’s health, naturally.
1. Take a good look at your diet
It’s time to be really honest with yourself about the foods you’re consuming on a daily basis. Ensure that you’re eating plenty of leafy greens, organic proteins, seasonal fruits and veggies, nuts, seeds, herbs, grains and legumes. These foods contain nutrients important for skin health and they also support good gut health. Avoid consuming processed, packaged and deep-fried foods.
2. Look after your gut health
The gut is the body’s second brain, so it’s important to keep it healthy. I recommend taking a good-quality probiotic, drinking warm water with lemon and eating probiotic-rich foods such as sauerkraut, kombucha and kefir. I also recommend eating prebiotic-rich foods including onions, garlic, dandelion greens and bananas.
3. Optimise your nutrient intake
As a nutritionist, my first point of call is to look at our diet. But the truth is that it can be challenging to consume all of the minerals, nutrients and vitamins that our bodies and skin need to reach their optimal potential. That’s why I created a range of nutritionally formulated vitamins that are proven to work. Our range of natural vitamins addresses many common skin conditions while boosting energy, metabolism and aiding digestion.
4. Reduce your stress levels
If you feel stressed on the inside, it will show on the outside. I firmly believe that stress negatively impacts not only our health, but our overall appearance. Excess cortisol (the stress hormone) can lead to inflammation, which can affect your skin’s appearance. A great way to combat stress is to allow time for more rest and replenishment. Some of my favourite exercises include yoga, meditation, walking in natural, journaling and deep belly breathing.
5. Get more rest
A healthy body is a rested body! When your body has time to rest and replenish, it’s apparent in the skin. I can tell you from personal experience that when I’ve pushed myself to my limits, it shows immediately on my skin. So, ensure you’re getting eight hours of sleep each night and try to get to bed between 9.30-10.30pm. Also, after work, try to get at least 10 to 20 minutes of downtime each day.
6. Consider the spiritual aspect of beauty
It doesn’t matter how many skin creams and facial oils we apply. True beauty is a feeling and an energy that comes from within. When you start to develop inner feelings of happiness and contentment, they will show on the outside. No amount of beauty products can give the illumination that comes from a kind heart.
Jessica Sepel is a clinical nutritionist, best-selling author, international health blogger and the beloved voice behind JSHealth and @jshealth. She is passionate about helping people overcome fad dieting and disordered eating, having gone through her own struggles with food. Her philosophy is focused around balance, rest and building a healthy relationship with food. She recently launched the JSHealth App, which features a world-first nutrition clinic, hundreds of healthy recipes, a daily meal planner, health guides, body love support and much more.
