Let's talk NUTRIENTS ft. Grams of Health

GUT HEALTH

Gut health is important in ensuring your body is able to absorb the nutrients provided by the food you consume, particularly the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are important for skin health. Prebiotics are the food for the bacteria in our gut, they come from most high fibre foods; fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and grains. Probiotics are the good bacteria in the gut that the prebiotics feed. Sources include fermented foods such as yoghurt, kefir, kombucha, kimchi, sauerkraut.

FOCUS ON WHOLE FOODS

Nourishing our skin from the inside out uses much of the same principles of good overall health and nutrition.

Fruits, vegetables and legumes: Aim to include a variety as each different colour and type provides different vitamins, minerals and health benefits.

Healthy fats - omega 3's: Help reduce inflammation and reduce ageing. Sources include fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, hemp seeds, walnuts, chia seeds and flax seeds. Aim for 2-3 servings of fish per week and 1 tablespoon of seeds or nuts per day.

Good quality proteins: Proteins are a building block of collagen (the fibrous structural protein of connective tissue which helps with skins suppleness). Choose lean cuts whenever you can.

ANTIOXIDANTS HELP TO REDUCE THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY SUN, STRESS & POLLUTION

Antioxidants fight off free radicals that can otherwise damage the structure and elasticity of skin. The richest natural sources are fresh fruits and vegetables such as citrus fruits, blackcurrant, rose hip, guava, chilli pepper or parsley.

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin which means it needs healthy fat in order to be effectively absorbed. Sources include sunflower seeds, almonds, peanuts, spinach, avocado 

Retinol must derive from diet or be applied topically as the body does not synthesise it. Retinol is found in liver, milk, egg yolk, cheese and fatty fish.