Thread by @bensmithlive

Eczema, dermatitis, and acne aren't skin conditions.

They're gut disorders manifesting on your skin.

Steroids and creams always fail long-term because the root cause is in your GUT.

Here are 16 evidence-based tips to fix it: 🧵

1) Stop eating sugar

Temporarily.

You need to prevent harmful bacteria by cutting out their fuel.

I advise an elimination diet, including removal of both refined and natural sugars, processed foods, common allergens, and FODMAPs.

(Even, fruit, honey, coconut, maple syrup)

Gradually reintroduce all foods you want to eat in the future, avoiding those you're intolerant to.

Foods are reintroduced from "least" to "most" harsh.

2) Avoid artificial sweeteners such as saccharin, sucralose, and aspartame. It is well-known these make a healthy gut microbiome pathogenic.

If you really need to—I recommend stevia (or xylitol).

Source 1, 2, 3

3) Hydrate properly

Consuming sodium and glucose in a (minimum) 2:1 ratio activates sodium-glucose transporter proteins pull water across cell membranes (hydration).

· Coconut water
· 1 tbsp honey + a pinch of salt
· Electrolyte solutions (with natural sugar)
· Pickles in brine (sodium) + dried fruit, such as apricots (glucose)

Pro tip: improve your water game. No tap water containing chlorine, fluoride, heavy metals.

4) Consume curcumin (/turmeric) for inflammation, digestive health, infection, pain relief, liver function.

My recent use-case: Drinking Jamu, an Indonesian turmeric-based drink

My protocol for H. Pylori, a particularly sticky infection, has curcumin up top.

5) Moderate your coffee consumption

The tight junctions holding your gut lining together become impaired by coffee on an empty stomach, or caffeine high consumption.

Consider replacing with a cup of chicory coffee per day. It’s full of prebiotic fibre to feed your microbiome.

6) Consume substances to combat gut dysbiosis

• Coconut oil
• Garlic
• Pumpkin seeds
• Flaxseed
• Oregano
• Cloves
• Apple cider vinegar
• Herbal supplements

Note: some top gut-friendly foods may cause bloating (e.g., garlic). Eat what you can and gradually increase.

7) 80% of your immune system is in the gut lining.

Heal it.

Increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut) is a culprit for your symptoms.

A quarterly salt flush, regular fasting, bone broth, supplementing with L-glutamine/zinc/vitamin A.

My best ways to protect gut lining.

8) Avoid gluten, processed gluten in-particular

It triggers the protein zonulin, that increases intestinal permeability, as discussed above.

White bread, pastries, dry pasta, it’s all got to go.

Enough gluten for long enough will cause any individual gut issues.

9) Avoid seed oils at all costs

Canola oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, cottonseed oil, soybean oil—get them out of your kitchen.

Instead, use extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, market butter, ghee, tallow.

10) Consume natural probiotics like kimchi, sauerkraut, kombucha, miso, tempeh (little and often) before turning to a supplement.

These foods contain live, probiotic strains to support overall gut health and microbial diversity.

Each strain of probiotic that you’ll find in a supplement has a different function: Choose strains according to your symptoms or go broad and moderate CFU.

The most common cause of digestive issues (including constipation and diarrhea) starts with an imbalance of gut bacteria.

11) Consume whole quality foods and a variety of fibre sources.

An animal-based approach, plenty of quality fish, and a variety of healthy fats, unrefined carbohydrates, and vegetables.

Psyllium husk and ground flaxseeds (fibre).

Broaden out with moderate fruit, eggs, oats, top-notch dairy, and full food freedom over time.

Veganism, eating no vegetables whatsoever, big no-go.

12) Reduce stress to activate the parasympathetic nervous system.

In "fight or flight" mode, digestion, immunity, and hormonal balance take a back seat.

Slow down, breathe deeply, and let your body focus on digestion before eating.

13) Stimulate your vagus nerve ↓

It's the communication link between the gut, brain, and all organs. It comprises 75% of the parasympathetic nervous system.

• Chant, sing, laugh, gargle
• Control your breathing
• Take long steady walks
• Neuromodulation with a Nurosym

14) Your gut greatly affects your mood, producing 90% of neurotransmitters like:

• Serotonin (how happy you feel)
• GABA (feelings of fear and anxiety)

What goes on downstairs affects what goes on upstairs. And vice versa.

If you don’t manage your mind, you won’t heal.

15) Don’t disrupt your circadian rhythm.

Your gut winds up and down in the same way you do. Therefore:

• Win the morning: Consistent wake up in the same 30 minute window (Use “Sleep Cycle” app alarm, it wakes you up in your lightest period of sleep in a 30-min window) sleepcycle.com

• Sounds trivial, but no phone, social media, stimulation until your morning routine and practice is over.

⁠⁠• Focus on the “in-between moments” as far as stimulation goes: Don’t reach for the phone, take long-slow forced exhales, go for a walk outside

⁠⁠• Follow the 9:3:1 rule (No caffeine 9 hours before bed, no food 3 hours before bed, no screen 1 hour before bed)

⁠• Win the evening: Use justgetflux.com on your laptop (non-negotiable), switch to low lights/lamps and blue light blockers, magnesium 60-90 minutes before you sleep: rawsport.com/collections/vi…

(no affiliation)

16) Spend time outside, under the sun.

Sun exposure triggers vitamin D production.

This activates receptors in gut cells, stimulating antimicrobial peptides that maintain gut barrier and shape microbiome composition.

These tips are battle-tested, and in cases have saved lives.

90% of my clients were hopeless and told me “specialists” couldn’t give them an answer.

3-6 months later, we cured the incurable.

Most skin issues starts in the gut and shows up on the skin.

When you stop treating the symptoms and start healing the source, your body can finally break free from the endless cycle of flares and remissions.

True healing comes from the inside out.

Thanks for reading! Before you leave...

Grab 14 battle-tested health tools to transform your health, regulate your mind and body, and accelerate your cognition.

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Thanks for reading!

For more content like this, you know what to do: drop a like and follow me @bensmithlive

Also, don't forget about the free event I'm hosting on YouTube next Tuesday.

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