How the Modern Diet Damages Gut Health — and Why This Matters for Palmoplantar Pustulosis

The gut-skin connection is one of the most well-documented but least-discussed aspects of PPP. In this post I want to explain the mechanism clearly,  why what you eat affects your immune system, and why your skin is often the first place that shows up.

Use these 10 tips to fix your gut:

As I stress in my book, your gut is one of the most important (and ignored) parts of your health. To be able to heal from Palmoplantar Pustulosis you need to look after your gut. Your gut bacteria influence your whole body such as: 

• Sleep
• Energy
• Weight loss
• Chronic pain
• Inflammation
• Mental health
• and much more... 

Here are 10 tips to fix your gut: 

1. Drink bone broth. Bone broth has high amounts of gelatine. Gelatine is essential for connective tissue function. It absorbs water and maintains the layer of mucus that keeps gut microbes away from the intestinal barrier. 
   
   
2. Eat fermented foods. Most fermented foods have bacteria with probiotic effects. These probiotics help restore balance in your gut and support digestion. Great options to incorporate in your diet:
   • Kefir
   • Yogurt
   • Pickles
   • Kimchi
   • Sauerkraut
   • Kombucha
   
   
3. Avoid antibiotics when possible. Yes, antibiotics kill bad bacteria. But they also kill good bacteria in your gut. This can lead to weight gain and other health issues. When you can, opt for natural remedies.
   
   
4. Limit artificial sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners like aspartame may increase blood sugar by stimulating the growth of unhealthy bacteria like Enterobacteriaceae in your gut microbiome. You don’t have to cut them all together… Just follow the 80/20 rule.
   
   
5. Get quality sleep. Lack of sleep can increase stress, which negatively affects your gut. Get good sleep by:
   
   • Cooling your room temperature
   
   • Avoiding screens 1 hour before bed
   
   • Investing in a quality mattress + pillow One of the most beneficial things you can do.
   
   
6. Eat a diverse range of foods. This leads to a diverse microbiome. Diverse microbiome = Healthy gut. The more species of bacteria you have, more health benefits they can contribute. Rotate your diet with veggies, meats.
   
   
7. Certain bacteria in your gut can digest fiber, which stimulates their growth. Great food options to get more fiber:
   • Lentils
   • Beans
   • Apples
   • Popcorn
   • Bananas
   • Broccoli
   • Chickpeas
   • Artichokes
   • Raspberries
   
   
8. Supplement on vitamins. There are some vitamin supplements, that should be part of your daily healing regime; the reason being that some of them are not available through food, and for others, most people with an unbalanced gut flora lack.
   
   

• ​D3 and Vitamin K2
• Colostrum
• Magnesium
• Zinc
• Biotin
• Enzymes
• Probiotics
• Chlorella
  
  

    9.  Consume probiotics. Probiotics are live microorganisms. They’re beneficial             because they fight off bad bacteria in your gut. Foods like:

• Yogurt     
• Buttermilk
• Sourdough bread Are great for getting more probiotics.

   10. Eat foods high in polyphenols. Polyphenols are plant compounds that help             reduce blood pressure, inflammation, cholesterol levels, and oxidative                     stress. They're found in:

•  Dark chocolate
• Grape skins
• Blueberries
• Green tea
• Red wine
• Almonds 
• Broccoli
• Onions

 
Summary:
10 tips to fix your gut health:

1. Drink bone broth
2. Eat fermented foods
3. Avoid antibiotics when possible
4. Limit sweeteners
5. Get quality sleep
6. Eat a range of foods
7. Certain bacterias
8. Supplement on vitamins
9. Consume probiotics
10. Eat foods high in polyphenols

The specific diet protocol I used to heal my PPP is in my book. You can order it on Amazon.