The Skin We’re In: Part 3: How Can I Balance My Microbiome?
A change in diet might be the first order of business. It stands to reason that what we eat affects our bodies and our health on a microbial level.
Eating lean meats, vegetables and fresh fruit is one way to get our health on track and improve overall health.
Here are some foods you can consume to help balance that microbiome and give it what it needs to be the most beneficial to you.
Increase Fiber
Eating twice the recommended daily allowance of fiber (which would be 40 grams) is beneficial in many ways. It can help lower blood sugar levels, fight weight gain, and help keep you “regular.”
Foods high in fiber are mostly fresh fruits and vegetables.
Apples, pears, strawberries, Avacados, bananas, carrots, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kidney beans, oats, almonds, popcorn and dark chocolate.
Drink/Eat polyphenols
Polyphenols are antioxidants that fuel microbes. Nuts, seeds, berries, olive oil, Brassicas (which include cauliflower, cabbage, rutabaga and turnip), coffee and tea, especially green teas.
Eat fermented foods
Though it doesn’t sound appealing, you probably already eat some fermented foods and aren’t even aware of it: Unsweetened yogurt, sauerkraut, and soybean-based products such as soy sauce, and tempeh (a soy product from Indonesia).
Our own Eris Hilburn also suggests Komboucha, a fermented tea made with brewer’s yeast. It comes in a variety of flavors and usually can be found in your local grocery store. It can be made at home, but if not made properly, it can cause health problems. It has a slightly bitter taste, has a foam head and may bring to mind flavored beers.
Have a drink
But only in small quantities. Perhaps one glass of wine or one beer on occasion. Alcohol has been shown to increase gut diversity. But don’t overdo it, as large quantities are harmful to your overall health.
Eat some collagen-rich foods
Collagen provides protective covering, not only for our skin, but also for our organs.
Foods which contain collagen are tomatoes, peppers, beets, spinach, kale, carrots, sweet potatoes, blackberries, raspberries, white tea, oranges, limes, lemons, grapefruit, meats, nuts, egg whites and garlic.
Other suggestions include eating lean proteins, using coconut oil (for its healthy fat content), limiting sugar and sugar-substitute intake, and getting plenty of sleep.
HS shows on our skin. But what’s on our skin may well be connected to what we put into our bodies.
Whether or not an imbalanced microbiome contributes to our HS, it stands to reason that eating healthier is beneficial to our overall health.
This article was first published in the March 2019 issue of the HS Journal. It is reprinted here with permission.
(Thanks for assistance from Miss Sandra Guilbault and Miss Eris Hilburn)
No part of this article is to be construed as medical advice.
JB
Studies have shown that brewers yeast is a major contributor to HS.
Studies have shown that insulin resistance is a major contributor to HS.
J
Tomatoes, brewers yeast, peppers, nuts, alcohol, soybean products…
All very bad for HS. This is really bad information…
Maria
Yes – wtf is this article. None of this is correct.
Teresa Darrow
I’ve found dairy products to be a problem. Stop eating/drinking dairy foods.
Alyx
My HS has been in remission for 8 years on a gluten free and dairy free diet. I only have a flare up if I accidentally consume one of these. Diet change alone was the answer for me, and I suspect it could be for lots of other people.
Carol
Hi Alyx, I am in the process of doing research for finding ways to control HS which my 15-year old granddaughter was diagnosed with several years ago. Her parents have tried everything from antibiotics, creams, various soaps, bath soaks, etc. Surgery was definitely not recommended due to the complications this can cause, such as, skin grafting and a long recovery period. The latest treatment recommended is Humira in a low dose prescription for
3-months. Seemingly this has been an effective form of treatment, but I do not like the side effects it can cause in such a young teenager. I do believe diet is a big factor in controlling the outbreaks of this disease. Your comments about doing a gluten/dairy free diet caught my eye. And, this is something I will pass on to my granddaughter. Thank you for the information.
Maria
This should be removed. It’s completely off base and erroneous. Please only consider this advice from a doctor who has access to research that is accurate. Yeast, dairy and sugar are the three main triggers.
Marie
Maybe the writer of this article is speaking of another type of skin disease and NOT HS? Most of this information is NOT accurate.