The last part of the digestive process is elimination. Clearing your system of natural waste by-products is key to a healthy body and clear skin. When food isn’t moving through your body as quickly as it should it starts to feed the bad bacteria in your body and puts pressure on your gut wall. Toxins and hormones that are supposed to leave the body through elimination get a second change to re-enter the system, leading to hormonal imbalances.

Digestive stagnation is something you want to avoid because it means you are keeping in natural waste far longer than what is good for your body.

Waste not eliminated on a daily basis will be absorbed back into the bloodstream through the colon and get recirculated! Our bodies will then attempt to expel these toxins through the skin, which then may cause our immune system to overreact, leading to breakouts.

Symptoms of poor elimination include constipation, bloating, gas, or loose stools.  

Constipation is defined by having less than three bowel movements a week or having bowel movements that are difficult and painful to pass.

Ideally, we should aim to have a bowel movement once a day – it should be complete and painless. Factors like stress, lack of fiber intake, and dehydration and all slow down the healthy elimination transit time.

Possible consequences of poor elimination over time include a swallow complexion, acne, and faster collagen breakdown due to the recirculation of these toxins.

To follow with clinical evidence, one scientific study that involved over 13,000 teenagers showed that those with acne were more likely to be constipated, and have acid reflux.  

In particular, those with acne were 37% more likely to be bloated. Bloating as a result of constipation happens because food sits in your digestive tract for a long period of time, attracting all kinds of bacteria that create a lot of gas inside you gut. Because a clinical study with over 13,000 test subject is quite large, it’s safe to say that the number of bowel movements you have per day is something to seriously look at if you have acne.

Improve the elimination of toxins by increasing natural fiber, which is found in many fruits, leafy greens, quinoa, and brown rice. If getting the needed fiber through meals is not always possible, take supplements like psyllium husk fiber or acacia fiber (also a natural prebiotic) by adding them into smoothies and drinks.

Drink 6-8 cups of water per day because water lubricates the digestive track, making stool easier to pass. Sometimes getting more fiber without more water can make constipation even worse. If you add lemon to the water you drink first thing in the morning, it can help the liver remove toxins from the body and stimulate the function of the colon.

Another thing you can do is to move your body more and get more exercise. Moving your body more will help stimulate all your  organs to perform, including the large intestine

And last but not least if you are caring for your overall gut health, by implementing the previous lessons, it will also help eliminate waste stagnation since it all works together.

However, there are more severe gut issues that, while taking action from the previous modules may lessen the symptoms, you would need professional medical intervention to completely resolve. These skin intruders are usually accompanied by other symptoms in addition to chronic acne.

Because there is such a clear link between the health of our gut and the condition of our skin, aggravated gut problems can lead to a host of skin disorders. So I’ve created this guide to help you become aware of these serious gut issues and when you will need to see a doctor. Based on research and personal experience, these severe gut issues do affect acne patients but are rarely diagnosed or even on the radar with many doctors and dermatologists. 

Now that you’ve completed these essential lessons on gut health, you are on your way to heal the control center that impacts your entire body, including your skin. Clear and youthful skin starts in the gut because anything that goes wrong will cause a multiple of symptoms, that will show on your skin through acne or signs of premature aging over time.