5 Nutrition Tips for Healthy, Glowing Skin
When it comes to achieving radiant skin, skincare products are just one part of the puzzle. Real, lasting skin health begins from the inside out, and what you eat has a powerful impact on your complexion. Here’s a guide to five essential nutrition tips that support your skin by reducing inflammation, balancing the microbiome, and helping to build strong, resilient skin.
1. Cut Out Industrial Seed Oils
Industrial seed oils, such as those from soybeans, corn, canola (rapeseed), cottonseed, and safflower, are everywhere in processed foods. These oils are highly refined, lacking nutrients but packed with empty calories, harmful additives, and are easily oxidised. Because of their inflammatory nature, they can aggravate the skin and are best avoided.
Try cooking with healthier alternatives like:
Butter or ghee (for stable, nutrient-rich fats)
Coconut oil (naturally antibacterial and great for cooking at high heat)
These alternatives offer beneficial fatty acids and antioxidants, helping you keep inflammation down and skin health up.
2. Ditch Processed Foods and Sugary Drinks
Processed foods and sugary beverages such as white bread, packaged cakes, sugary cereals, and sodas contribute little to your skin health. Loaded with artificial ingredients, preservatives, and refined sugars, they not only lack essential nutrients but can also lead to imbalances in the gut. High-sugar foods can feed harmful bacteria in the gut, resulting in increased toxicity and inflammation that often shows up on your skin as breakouts or dullness.
Instead, try meals high in protein and healthy fats like:
Grass-fed meats and eggs
Avocado, nuts, and seeds
Whole, unprocessed foods that keep you satiated and support steady energy levels
These types of foods can reduce cravings, support gut health, and provide essential nutrients that contribute to stronger, healthier skin.
3. Limit Alcohol Intake
Frequent alcohol consumption can significantly impact your skin health. Alcohol can lead to toxin build-up in the skin and gut, leading to inflammation and skin issues like acne, rosacea, dry skin, and flare-ups of conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Alcohol also dehydrates your skin, making it appear dull and lacklustre.
Better beverage options include:
Water (for hydration)
Homemade kombucha (for probiotics)
Herbal teas (like chamomile or green tea, rich in antioxidants)
These alternatives can support skin hydration and balance the gut, helping your skin glow naturally.
4. Reduce Grains and Ultra-Processed Dairy
Many people find that gluten and highly processed dairy products can trigger gut-related issues that reflect on the skin. Conventional wheat often contains herbicides like glyphosate and genetically modified ingredients, both of which can harm the gut lining and contribute to widespread inflammation. Similarly, ultra processed dairy products may cause congestion and breakouts for some, adding to the skin’s inflammatory load.
Reducing or eliminating these foods might help alleviate symptoms such as bloating, fatigue, and skin irritation, making way for a clearer complexion.
Consider replacing with:
Organic, grass-fed butter and ghee and fermented dairy such as kefir, 24 hour sour cream or 24 hour yoghurt.
5. Avoid Refined Sugars
Refined sugars found in most packaged foods (even savoury ones) are highly processed and can be damaging to the gut lining. When consumed frequently, refined sugars can contribute to "leaky gut," where undigested particles escape the gut and trigger systemic inflammation. This inflammation can exacerbate skin issues like acne and eczema.
Natural sweeteners like raw honey provide an alternative that’s less inflammatory when used in moderation. Honey is easier on the gut and won’t spike blood sugar in the same way as refined sugar, helping to keep your skin balanced and resilient.
Each of these tips supports the gut-skin connection, helping you work toward skin that’s healthy and resilient. By choosing nourishing, anti-inflammatory foods, you’re giving your skin the foundation it needs to repair and thrive. Start with one tip at a time and see how your skin responds – sometimes, small changes can lead to powerful transformations.
Want to learn more? Join us at our upcoming Eczema & Skin Conditions Masterclass - to learn more click here.