We all want glowing, smooth skin. And we go to great lengths to buy all the products that advertise to do miracles for the skin. But what if part of that glow came from within?

For years I have been studying the correlation between gut health and skin health. Most recently, I graduated from the Integrative School of Nutrition, learning from the best about this subject.

This topic has been on health care professionals' radar for quite some time and the general consensus is that there is a direct correlation between your gut health and your skin health.

Recent research and studies have proven that our guts have a stronghold on our health. A thriving gut equals a healthy immune system, strong mind and healthy skin.

So could your skin issues be a sign that your gut health is off in some way?

The skin is a great barometer for what is going on inside the gut. While it doesn’t sound glamorous, the gut is where 70-80% of our immune system lies. It is where we make nutrients, metabolize hormones and detoxify enzymes, neutralize pathogens and make neurotransmitters. So yes the health of the gut is super important!

How does our skin tell us that our gut health is off? 

If our skin is irritated, inflamed, dry, dull, red, or broken out, chances are there may be an imbalance in your gut.

For those dealing with acne, eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, and premature aging, healing your gut will make a huge impact. Research shows that our gut health, as well as stress, can negatively impact the skin’s protective antimicrobial barrier and make the skin worse.

We have all probably experienced one of these skin issues at sometime in our life, and probably didn’t have a clue as to why!

Thanks to research and science it is no longer a mystery why we could be experiencing these different skin issues.

 So what can we do?

There is no one size fits all gut restoration. But a few suggestions that work for all of us is incorporating a fiber rich, nutrient dense diet, and supporting your emotional and mental well being through exercise and meditation. 

Also, adding probiotics, and fermented foods help bring the gut microbiome into balance and restore gut health.

Removing processed and fast foods is a great start to gut health, along with eating at home more as opposed to eating most of your meals out.  And also one of my favorites, drinking at least eight glasses of water a day. 

To heal the skin, it’s essential first to heal the gut. 

I have personally done the work to heal my gut and I stay on track with my diet and exercise because not only do I love glowing skin but I love feeling that High Energy all the time!

Please do your own research, and I am happy to help or answer any questions.  

I am always on the hunt for great food sources and/or supplements that will improve the quality of my life and my skin.

Recently I have come across a “superfood” that is rocking my world. It’s raw cacao!

If you’ve read much about cacao – the main raw ingredient is chocolate –it’s been linked with various health benefits, including for mood, energy, heart health and even memory.

But I am not referring to chocolate bars or milk chocolate candy. I am talking about the raw form of chocolate from the cacao bean. (So there is no sugar involved!)

 Did you know that eating raw cacao has benefits for your skin, hair and nails, too?

Here are some other ways in which eating raw cacao could help keep you looking beautiful…

 Raw cacao is rich in powerful flavanols – plant compounds thought to help stimulate our body’s antioxidant defense. 

Although magnesium isn’t the first nutrient we think of when it comes to beauty, we need plenty of it in our diet to help keep our skin clear and young looking.

As if this all weren’t enough, cacao is also a source of copper, which is required by an enzyme that produces melanin, the pigment that maintains our skin and hair colour. It helps us get a tan and stops our hair going grey!

From skin-protecting antioxidants to minerals for healthy, strong hair, skin and nails – could raw cacao be your new beauty superfood?

Raw cacao is so good in a hot chocolate type of drink. Anima Mundi is a great choice and will be linked below. There are instructions on her website on how to make the ceremonial hot chocolate.

 It is a great pick me up around 2:00 in the afternoon. And it’s  loaded with great antioxidants and minerals for your skin.

 It is important to buy cacao paste or powder that is labeled organic, full fat cacao. A great choice is Anima Munde raw cacao powder. Try it, you might find that you Love it.

https://animamundiherbals.com/products/cacao-raw-heirloom-organic?_pos=1&_sid=9c0c102f3&_ss=r

Until next time,

xoxo

Many of my customers are surprised to hear this, but digestion can often impact your skin. 

What does your digestive system have to do with maintaining beautiful skin?

Is there a connection between the two?

Actually, there is a very powerful connection!

You have heard the saying that "you are what you eat." But in reality, you are what you digest and absorb.

In order to have and maintain good skin, a healthy gut is paramount. In fact, almost 80% of your immune system exists in the gut. So when it is functioning normal and optimal, your skin will reflect it.  You will have more energy and notice that your mood tends to be more on the happy side.

On the other side of the coin, if your digestive system is not working properly you will experience constipation, diarrhea, hormonal imbalance, skin issues and more.

So basically, the gut needs to be able to absorb the important nutrients from your food and supplements to keep you healthy and your immune system functioning properly.

It also needs to be able to remove daily toxins from your body. If you are not getting rid of toxins daily, you can be reabsorbing them, which show in your skin in the form of blemishes, acne or other common skin conditions.

So here are some ways to boost gut health, thus improve your skin.

• Eat real, unprocessed food. Healthy fats, plenty of greens, vegetables, and green juices. I personally eat greens every day.  I have also invested in cold press juicers.
• Eliminate processed, easy convenient packaged foods. Reduce your sugar, dairy, and gluten. 
• Some people need to supplement with good gut supplements, For example D3 is very important for gut health.
• Take in plenty of fiber. Women need 25 grams of fiber per day. 
• Drink lots of water. No joke. I personally keep a quart jar next to my Berkey water filter, to keep me accountable to myself. I drink at least 2 a day. 64 oz. 
• Incorporate exercise into your weekly schedule.
• Eat healthy fats. Eat foods with Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. Or take supplements with Omega 3 and 6.

This is just a quick overview of the connection of gut health and skin. Honestly, I could write a post on each one of these items! 

But I highly recommend finding a functional medicine doctor and having your blood work tested to check hormone levels, thyroid, or any test that is related to knowing the condition of your gut. 

If you have any questions, I am happy to answer. Just send me an email or text.

Until next time,

Over the past few months, my #selfcare routine has reached a pro level😜

If you are a long-time reader, you know that one of my favorite self care routines is salt baths. 

Each night, I look so forward to that time after dinner when I can slip away with some candles, a good read and a warm bath and slide down into a tub with these my custom bath salts.

With a bit more time on my hands, I have been something of a mad scientist for the last several months combining different salts, botanicals and amazing oils to formulate a bath salt experience. (Hint--It is rocking my world!) 

The aroma of the mixture of passionflower, chamomile, lavender and sandalwood take me away to a fabulous memory of being in Tulum getting a massage at a spa. 

The way you feel when you come out of these soaks is almost indescribable. Your muscles are relaxed. your mind is calm and your skin glistens.  Oh yes, and you will sleep like a baby.

The mission was to bring this experience to the Real Raw Beauty tribe, so that you can have this experience in the comfort of your own home. We are excited to announce that we will be offering Real Raw Beauty's first bath salt, aptly named Tulum.

The soon to debut bath salts contain ingredients that are in a league of their own. We spared no expense for the Dead Sea and Pharmaceutical grade salts infused with Organic botanicals, and oils.

The launch of the salts will come somewhere around Mother's Day. 

They are available at https://www.realrawbeauty.com/collections/body/products/tulum-bath-salts

Until next time, Jan

I hope this newsletter finds you in the best possible situation you can be in as we continue to quarantine and distance. 

At the beginning of March, I started drinking a lot of Chaga Mushroom broth and Chaga Mushroom tea to support my immune system. (For all of my Memphis readers, you can purchase the broth and tea at any Raw Girls location.)

I also ordered Chaga extract powder to have at home to add to my coffee, hot tea, and smoothies.

And what I have to report is...this stuff is magic! 

Chaga is a mushroom that looks like a piece of coal, but it is basically a nutrient-dense superfood. It has so many documented health benefits, from killing harmful cells to eliminating oxidative stress.

But not all Chaga is not the same!  I have tried a few, and will share with you the kind that I love.

Even though I am totally enthralled with the health benefits, I am equally amazed at the benefits to my skin.

Chaga has been known to:

• Restore skin elasticity and aid in collagen production.
• Protect the skin against UV rays
• Slow down the aging process of  the skin
• Regenerate the skin

I rarely get this excited about a product, but this one caught my attention for all the obvious reasons.

After two to three weeks of adding it daily to my coffee, hot tea and smoothies, there has been a noticeable change in my skin. 

It's apparent to me that it helps in the promotion of collagen, restoring elasticity and smoothing out my skin.  And it will also make your hair and nails grow, too.

But it's not immediate.

And it may not be for everyone.

It has a very *earthy* (acquired!) taste. But I have fallen in love with the taste and seriously add it to everything I am drinking that is hot.

Given everything that is going on in our world right now, I wanted to offer a possible way to help keep your body healthy and also get the benefits for your skin.

Please research this topic yourself and determine if it would be something that would benefit you. There is a lot of information out there for you to check out.

The Chaga extract that I am using is Sayan Chaga extract with Shilajit. The dosage is 1/4 teaspoon per cup of tea or coffee. This particular brand has proven to be the purest without any filters. 

From our family to yours, stay healthy and continue washing those hands.

Until next time, 

Jan

Just being transparent--it took me a minute to decide if I wanted to share this topic in my newsletter.

It's a touchy subject...

But because this has had such a positive impact on my life and business, I decided to share it with you.

Last August, I was growing Real Raw Beauty online AND preparing to set up my first brick and mortar inside of the Raw Girls store in Saddle Creek. Life was very busy!

After a long workday, I looked so forward to coming home and pouring a glass of wine to unwind from the day. 

Actually, having wine every night had become my normal. And it was normal for just about everyone that I knew!

Prior to 2019, our big family had always come together with the commonality of drinking together. It was a way of connecting and socializing with each other. We always selected restaurants based on their great bars and incredible IPA's, along with the food.

Even if we were getting together at one of the homes, everyone was bringing wine and beer.

But then, out of nowhere several of the family members decided that they wanted to experiment with not drinking alcohol.

My children, along with some of their spouses, decided to call it quits to alcohol. (My children's ages range from 35-43.) They had very demanding jobs, children, and a lot of responsibility at work and wanted to be clear-headed at night and also when they woke up the next morning.

Kombucha, sparkling water and iced tea replaced Pinot Gris, Champagne, and IPAs.

Oddly enough though, over time, I got used to it. As I stood back and watched my kids, there was no doubt that cutting out alcohol had made them more productive, very present with their children and happier in their everyday lives.

The amazing thing about their story is that they all four stopped within months of each other, without telling each other.

For all the right reasons, not drinking alcohol was becoming very intriguing to me personally, especially as I continued to watch it play out in their lives.

Not one of my children even suggested that they thought I should entertain the thought of cutting out alcohol.

But one day I woke up and just decided this would probably be a really good thing for me, too.

I needed to clear-headed at night, and I really wanted to be totally present in my life and business.

That was almost 7 months ago.

I know it sounds strange, but I never really saw myself not having a glass of wine at night. 

So many positive beautiful things have happened in my life since I made this decision. My relationships with friends and family grew and I began working with my marketing consultant and my business DOUBLED!! (Yes, please!)

The decision was not difficult because I was ready for a big change in my life. I also gave myself the green card to have a glass of wine when I am out of town on a vacation, if I wanted one. 

I don't know what is right for anyone else. And I am not even remotely recommending anyone follow me in this. I just wanted to share my experience.

And I would be remiss if I didn't mention the beauty byproduct of cutting alcohol--your skin looks even better!🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️

It was extremely dehydrating for my skin. And it also caused a lot of inflammation and puffiness.  So now that kombucha and sparkling water are my daily beverages, my skin is extremely hydrated and has so much less inflammation. 

So for me, it is a total win-win. 

I have no idea if things will be different a year from now. But for right now this is rocking my world.

Until next time,

Jan

As I continue to navigate our new reality, I have found myself  trying to focus on some good things that could come out of this time. I am intentionally putting my mind and thoughts on things I actually have control over.

I don't know about you, but this "shelter in place" quarantine has produced the most organized, cleanest closets I have ever had.

Along with my closets, my pantry has been gutted, cleaned out and reorganized, and my refrigerator. Organizing and cleaning them all make me very happy!  

But I didn't throw out all the comfort food. Oh no, I kept my Siete chips and salsa, along with my dark chocolate. I have also indulged in those Organic Immaculate biscuits recently. Oh my!!

For the first time EVER, I am enjoying Facetime on my phone. Before all of this, I never used Facetime when I called someone. But it has proven to bring me great joy and happiness to see my children and grandchildren's faces while we are talking.

If I had a garden, I would be spending so much time cultivating, creating and planting it.  I know for those of you that have gardens, they are like therapy. If you have a garden, please share it on social media with us. We would love to see what you are doing.

Now that all the gyms are closed I am forced to create my own exercise routine. I am choosing to walk because I feel like I need to get out and take in the sunshine and fresh air.

Our building is closed to outsiders, so there is no one out walking except me. I just circle the perimeter over and over while listening to a podcast or music. 

But the best experience that has come from "sheltering in" is my relationship with my husband. We realize how fortunate we are to have each other. This year will be our 25th wedding anniversary.

Every night we get in the kitchen together and cook. I do more watching than cooking. Ha! He has always cooked for me, probably one of the reasons I married him. 

We play board games and cards. We watch movies and series and have wonderful conversations about our life and what we want to do when we can get out again. 

Yes, for me, I am using this time of sheltering as a time of renewal and change for the things in my life that needed to change. 

Even though I love all the changes, I am also very happy that this is a temporary situation that will end soon. So until then, I will continue to feed my soul with words, music, and connections that move me in a positive direction.

Stay home, stay healthy and continue to wash those hands!

Until next time,

Jan

P.S. Be watching next week for our Semi-Annual Spring Sale! 

Six months ago I went in for a facial at Esthetiques Skin Spa here in Memphis. Brandi, the owner showed me this beautiful jade Gua Sha stone that was available at her spa. I was completely intrigued, not just by this jade beauty tool, but also by Brandi's skin.

I hadn't seen Brandi in a few weeks, but I noticed her skin looked incredible. I remember it looked so smooth, and vibrant.

  I had to ask her what she had added to her skin routine to get those results and she told me she had been using the Nefeli Gua Sha stone.  

I went home and began to google everything I could find on the Nefeli Gua Sha stone. It is the first-ever patented jade beauty tool. It is known for its incredible beauty and healing effects, namely in preventing and treating the signs of aging such as wrinkles sagging, dark circles and promoting overall skin rejuvenation from the inside out. 

Brandi's skin alone made me go back and buy it from her.

Probably one of the best investments I have made for my skin along with Real Raw Beauty skincare. I say investment because it cost quite a bit more than the ones I had come across on Amazon.

Learning to use it properly, and using it consistently is key to getting results. I use mine at least 5 days a week. It takes me 10-15 minutes to a day. 

 I decided to do a short video so that you can see the Gua Sha stone in action and also answer some questions that I have gotten from some of my customers.

Also, if you decide to buy one you can get it from Esthetiques skin spa website,  just type in Real Raw Beauty for your discount code at checkout and you will get 15% off. This offer is only for online orders.

Get ready to Gua Sha! 

Click the link below and enjoy the video.  

The product links are listed below the video on youtube.

https://youtu.be/UfqmCap7Iy8