Most treatment and management plans for eczema are external such as steroids and topical treatments. But did you know, an increase in consumption of essential fatty acids can actually improve the symptoms of eczema?
What Is The Gut?
Our gut microbiome is a vast collection of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa colonizing our GI system. The main job of the gut is to maintain a balance between allowing vital nutrients to enter the bloodstream, but still remaining small enough to prevent other hazardous disease-causing substances from passing out of your digestive system into the rest of your body.
What Is Leaky Gut Syndrome?
Leaky gut occurs when the tight junctions between the cells that line your small intestine loosen, creating holes in which is commonly known as ‘leaky gut’. This then allows undigested food particles, bacteria, toxins and antigens into your bloodstream and can cause an immune system reaction.
What Causes Leaky Gut?
The exact cause of a leaky gut is a bit of a mystery. However, it’s believed the following reasons may cause an increase in intestinal permeability.
- High gluten consumption
- Infections like candida, intestinal parasites, and small intestine bacterial overgrowth
- Excess consumption of inflammatory foods
- Long term use of antibiotics or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Low levels of healthy gut bacteria
Leaky Gut and Eczema
An immune response from your immune system which normally serves the purpose of fighting infections and diseases, is now fighting your own cells leading to chronic inflammation, which is a root cause of major diseases including eczema. Studies have shown many people with eczema have different bacteria in their gut compared to people without eczema. This doesn’t mean every eczema is caused by leaky gut syndrome. However, an unhealthy gut means a weak immune system and thereby contact with even a small trigger, such as stress, extreme temperatures, or allergens, may make you more susceptible to eczema flare ups. This highlights that overall gut health is crucial to the management of eczema.
Healing The Gut
The treatment for leaky gut revolves around a healthy diet eliminating foods that your body treats as toxic, and taking gut repairing supplements.
Avoid inflammatory food
Try to avoid these ingredients that may trigger inflammation in your gut.
- Sugar and high-fructose corn syrup
- Baked goods
- Excessive alcohol
- Dairy products
Follow a healthy diet
Simple rules are to eat healthy, whole foods and try to avoid processed foods.
Healthy foods include:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Coconut products such as coconut oil, milk, dried coconut and coconut water
- Clean, grass-fed or wild proteins
- Gluten-free whole grains
- Nuts and seeds (if you’re not allergic)
- Bone broth
- Fermented vegetables
- Olives and olive oil (avoid deep frying)
Studies have shown that an increase of probiotic or cultured foods can promote healthy bacteria in the gut. Some examples include:
- Raw cheese
- Apple cider vinegar
- Probiotic yoghurt
It’s also recommended to incorporate vitamins B6 and C into your diet as they are beneficial in repairing the gut lining.
Take a gut repairing supplement
Did you know studies have shown that children of mothers who take omega-3 supplements or consume diets high in omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy and feeding tend to have lower rates of eczema?
Omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation to the skin by inhibiting the production of inflammatory substances, such as leukotriene B4, which are known to play a role in eczema. People with eczema tend to have significantly lower levels of the omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, in their systems. However, taking omega-3 supplements can help reduce inflammation in the body and improve symptoms of itchy skin and may also help repair and rebuild skin-cell membranes.
Your Daily Dose of Omega 3, 6 & 9 without the fishy taste - Mega Oil
While many of the Grahams Natural treatments are topical, our Mega Oil works to nourish your body from the inside out. Containing 100% natural oil ingredients including Omega 3, 6 and 9, our oil works to treat gut issues that can contribute to skin disorders and overall health issues.
Mega Oil contains the following ingredients: Flaxseed Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Borage Oil, Safflower Seed Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, Sesame Seed Oil, Pumpkin Seed Oil. We have chosen to use only seed oils as many people with allergies cannot tolerate fish oils that are predominately used for EFA's. These seeds give our Mega Oil a delicious nutty flavour.
Mega Oil Recipe
Mega Oil can be consumed straight from the bottle, or added to your favourite foods from pasta, rice, vegetables, salads, yoghurt or fruit.
Here’s a quick, easy and delicious way to include Mega Oil in your morning smoothie.
Healthy Green Smoothie
- ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
- ½ cup honey yoghurt
- 3 cups baby spinach
- 2 bananas (sliced and frozen)
- 1 tablespoon of mega oil
- Power up your morning with this fruit-veggie smoothie. Prepare the banana by slicing and placing it in a freezer bag. Freeze the banana overnight.
- In a blender, combine the almond milk, honey yoghurt, baby spinach and frozen banana and blend until smooth.
- Pour the mixture into a tall glass.
- Now the fun part! Stir in the Mega Oil until smooth and ENJOY!