Today I am once again presenting you with a guest article by nutritionist Katharina Ziegelbauer from Vienna. Katharina can give you tips for more beautiful skin from her own experience, as she herself suffers from neurodermatitis and has already helped countless people on their way to more beautiful skin. Enjoy reading and of course we look forward to your questions and comments afterwards.

Do you know the saying: Your skin is the mirror of your soul? I would add to that: Your skin is the mirror of your gut. As a neurodermatitis sufferer, I know the suffering of open, painful skin. And I have experienced for myself the influence that the right diet can have. Today I am symptom-free.

The two main causes of acne, atopic dermatitis and psoriasis according to TCM are:

1. Moisture: swelling, thick pimples, boils, weeping eczema, fluid-filled blisters
2. Heat: reddened areas, inflammation

You probably know the experience that your skin problems get worse when you eat sweets. According to TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), this is because sweets, especially white sugar, produce pathogenic dampness.

The intestines cannot expel the dampness and so it comes out through the skin. In the form of pimples, plaques and weeping eczema.

TCM nutrition: body, soul and spirit united

You have probably already experienced that stress is not necessarily good for your skin. According to TCM, this is because stress has a heating effect. The redder and more inflamed your skin is, the more heat you have inside you. And this is directly intensified by stress.

In addition to stress, pay attention to the following emotions:

• Anger, rage, resentment: have a heating effect (increase the redness of the skin)

• Sadness, grief: stress the lungs, which according to TCM are responsible for the skin

• a lot of brooding, worrying: impedes digestion, i.e. the conversion of food into Qi (vital energy), generates pathogenic dampness, which is discharged through the skin if the person is predisposed to it

Traditional Chinese medicine is a holistic medicine that sees people as a unity of body, soul and spirit.

The first thing you can do for your skin is to reduce stress and take better care of your emotions.

The second thing is, of course, your diet.This is the basis for a lasting improvement in your skin so that you can look happily in the mirror again. :)

What TCM nutrition can do for the skin

1. Pay attention to your digestion.

   
   If you are prone to skin problems, your digestion is probably not working properly. Residues (in Western terms: waste products, according to TCM: moisture) remain, which your skin has to eliminate on behalf of the intestines. Reduce these residues and your skin will recover. Specifically: Avoid anything that makes you bloated, is in your stomach or Diarrhea triggers.

2. Avoid hot spices.

   
   If you've ever eaten chili con carne, you'll know that it can make you feel quite hot afterwards. According to TCM, this is because hot spices have a heating effect. Specifically: reduce chili, curry, pepper, garlic, but also cinnamon, ginger and cloves.

3. Reduce cow's milk and cheese.

   
   Cow's milk produces pathogenic moisture in the body. With cheese, the softer it is, the more moisturizing it is. In concrete terms: avoid cow's milk and eat feta, parmesan and tangy mountain cheese rather than curd cheese, cottage cheese and mozzarella. But not too much of these either.

4. Eat 2 to 3 cooked meals a day.

   
   A hot breakfast in particular is an effective way of reducing moisture in the body and boosting your digestive power. So that no new moisture can form. Cold and raw food, on the other hand, can produce excessive amounts of moisture, especially exotic fruits, raw tomatoes and raw cucumbers. Specifically: Eat cooked vegetables, rice, polenta, millet, quinoa, soups, stews, compotes and pulses often. Eat raw fruit and vegetables only in small quantities or as a side dish.

5. Eat less bread and pastries.

   
   You may have noticed that you get bloated after eating a cheese sandwich. According to TCM, bread is difficult to digest, especially in combination with cheese and sausage. Wholemeal bread, especially when it is still fresh and "moist", is considered particularly unpalatable and therefore moistening. Specifically: Eat bread with vegetable spreads or hummus or as a side dish to soups and stews. Try to introduce bread-free days.

6. Reduce white sugar and sweets.

   
   Chocolate in particular has a negative effect on your skin: the combination of cow's milk, bad fats and sugar has a triple moisturizing effect, and the cocoa adds extra heat. Specifically: look for healthy substitutes, e.g. high-percentage dark chocolate (recipe for homemade chocolate), dried fruit, semolina cook (cooked with rice milk). Do not stock up on snacks.

Which tips will you try out? We look forward to hearing about your experiences in the comments.If you have any questions, we'll be happy to answer them!

About the author

Katharina Ziegelbauer is a TCM nutritionist and helps people to find the perfect diet for them - suitable for everyday use, in line with their favorite foods and precisely tailored to their TCM type. On Katharina's blog you will find recipes and lots of practical tips on how you can promote your health with the right diet.