Style: August 03, 2017

STYLE | wellbeing 59
WHAT ARE PROBIOTICS & PREBIOTICS?
Probiotics are live, good bacteria that occur
naturally in the body, although levels can be
boosted with supplements and particular
foods. Their main benefit is to the gut, as
they aid the digestion process. Prebiotics,
on the other hand, are specialised plant
fibres that do not occur naturally in the
body, and instead make their way into the
digestive system through the food we eat.
Prebiotics nourish and encourage the body’s
production of probiotics, improving the
good-to-bad bacteria ratio and enhancing
their effectiveness.
Every person has their own unique gut
and skin microflora (the balance of good and
bad ba cteria), which is directly inherited from
their mother.
THE BALANCING ACT
Balance of the gut microflora has been
discovered to be central to preventing
allergies, and when out of balance, eczema,
rashes, hives and conditions such as irritable
bowel syndrome and auto-immune disorders
can occur.
The use of probiotic supplements can help
keep the body in balance, as well as eating
foods such as yoghurt, kefir, avocado, miso
soup, pickles, kimchi, kombucha tea and,
thankfully, dark chocolate.
But, after a short time, usually after around
three to four weeks, your body will no
longer benefit from probiotic supplements
as your immune system begins to recognise
them as foreign bacteria. Because prebiotics
support the growth of your own unique
good bacteria probiotics, it’s a good idea to
use the two in combination, then, once your
“Your face is unique.
gut microflora is restored, Trust continue your injectable to take a
prebiotic to keep the balance wrinkle place. treatments
You’ll know when the probiotic to an experienced stops
working when common digestive Cosmetic issues Physician” start
returning. I usually take a prebiotic Medical in tandem
Director
Dr Heather Jefferies
with a probiotic for three weeks, and then
continue using the prebiotic for three
months before topping up my good bacteria
with a probiotic again.
It’s also important to remember probiotic
supplements can die in the capsule, or on
their way through the digestive tract. Always
look for high-quality, high colony forming
unit probiotics. Probiotics that work are
expensive as they have to be specifically
micro-encapsulated (coated) to be
protected from the digestive enzymes and
acid in the stomach, which is also why it’s so
vital you take probiotics after a meal.
FACE VALUE
The skin, much like the gut, has its own
unique microflora. Lack of balance can have
any number of causes, including the use
of too many cleansers and soaps. Instead
of protecting against infection, this overscrubbing
results in damaging your own
natural and unique defences. It’s at this point
that bad bacteria run wild, causing outbreaks
of acne, inflammation, redness or dry and
irritated skin.
Over the years, many products have
claimed to give us clear and beautiful skin,
and have focused on getting rid of bacteria.
In this process all bacteria are destroyed,
including the good stuff, meaning that clear
skin doesn’t last long as bad bacteria quickly
grow back to replace the good.
As well as exfoliating less and resisting
the urge to over-cleanse, it’s important to
use a product that contains a prebiotic and
the peptides from probiotic bacteria. When
used in conjunction, these work to promote
good bacterial growth while inhibiting bad
bacteria. Look for a skincare product centred
on providing a boost of probiotics while
nurturing the existing good bacteria with
prebiotics.
What’s clear is that our gut and skin health
work in synergy. Balance in both is the
answer to beautifully clear and glowing skin.
Dr Iona Weir is the creator of the
Atopis skincare range. She was the
Chief Scientific Officer for the team that
developed Phloe and KiwiCrush. She has
also worked on Living Nature, Meracol
and Enzogenol.
Pain free laser
“Your face is unique. skin Trust rejuvenation your injectable wrinkle
Facial assessments
treatments to an experienced Cosmetic Physician.”
Injectable wrinkle
- Medical Director, Dr treatments Heather Jefferies
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