3 detox secrets from a naturopath and skincare specialist

Did you know that nutrition is the best weapon for glowing skin ? Eating well stimulates cell regeneration, collagen production, and protection against skin inflammation. Without the essential nutrients for its well-being, your skin becomes more vulnerable to blemishes, dullness, and aging.

Why the liver? It's the most important organ for detoxification and metabolism of nutrients, hormones, and toxic substances. It metabolizes everything. An overloaded liver can manifest itself in skin problems such as breakouts or dull skin. It's often said that your skin is the mirror of your liver's health!

In order for macronutrients and micronutrients (vitamins, antioxidants, minerals) to be digested, our liver must metabolize them overnight. Generally, it is said that it does this work between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. So my first piece of advice is this:

Ideally, you should go to bed at 10:30 p.m. to achieve a deep sleep by 1 a.m. This will allow your liver to function optimally. Your skin is a reflection of your health. A healthy liver means radiant skin!

In addition to a regular sleep schedule, it's important to drink enough to help your liver function optimally. Drinking enough water is essential for the proper functioning of all organs, including the liver. It helps eliminate waste through urine and supports metabolic processes. Proper hydration also aids digestion and nutrient transport.

By indirectly supporting the proper functioning of the kidneys, hydration helps eliminate waste produced by the liver. Hydration is essential!

If you eat too many calories, your liver will have a harder time detoxifying, especially if you don't sleep well the next night.

Eat what you need and avoid ultra-processed foods that are loaded with sugars and fats.

Why is it important to limit insulin spikes (increase in blood sugars)? Because overstimulating insulin creates inflammation. Repeated and chronic insulin spikes not only create inflammation; they also disrupt hormonal balance. Consistently elevated insulin can lead to excess production of androgens (male hormones), which exacerbates acne problems.

We eat too much and too often. If we eat up to 5-6 times a day, we multiply our daily insulin spikes. However, if we have too much sugar in our blood, it turns into stored fat. Other consequences of these sugar spikes: pimples, acne, or even worse, diabetes and heart disease.

Finally, hypoglycemia and fatigue are caused by sugar consumption earlier in the day. However, when insulin levels drop again... we feel hungry! To stabilize blood sugar in the morning, I always recommend starting the day with a breakfast rich in protein and healthy fats (like eggs, avocado, or nuts), rather than sugary foods. This will avoid insulin spikes, reduce cravings, and prevent hypoglycemia and fatigue later in the day. A good breakfast helps maintain a lasting feeling of fullness and limits the urge to snack.

When you want to address overall liver and skin inflammation, you need to reduce your carbohydrate intake. For example, having bread with dinner is fine. However, having bread and dessert is a lot for your liver to digest!

It's important to remember that the faster the sugar (powdered or lump sugar, for example), the more harmful it is to insulin spikes. Agave syrup isn't any better, as it's made up of about 70 to 90% fructose, with the rest being glucose. Honey, at least, contains many minerals and trace elements.

Likewise, 1 piece of fruit a day is enough. You shouldn't overdo it with fruit juices, as the fructose will go straight to the liver. To sweeten things up without harming yourself, you can use a handful of raspberries, bananas, maple syrup, or (a little) honey. Unlike glucose, fructose is metabolized only by the liver. Excessive consumption of fructose, especially in the form of added sugars and syrups, causes fat to accumulate in the liver. This promotes insulin resistance and increases oxidative stress, which can lead to serious liver disease.

It's all about habit. Why not start by adding 60g of sugar instead of 100g when making your next cake, for example?

In our society, we consume a lot of gluten and we "let it happen." We consider our stomach aches, bloating, and skin problems to be harmless, even normal. We are told that it's related to stress, when the culprit that often causes this type of inflammation is called: gluten.

It's important to know that bakery breads are now made from processed flours and industrial yeasts, and no longer from traditional sourdough. However, it's sourdough that makes bread much more digestible! Many gluten-intolerant people experience daily discomfort without being aware of the origin of their ailments. Many people with gluten intolerance suffer from various symptoms without knowing the cause, and are at risk of intestinal hyperpermeability. This condition allows toxins and bacteria to enter the bloodstream, thus promoting the development of skin problems such as acne, eczema, or psoriasis.

(Discover my book on this subject: Beauty and Food - Recipes and nutritional advice to enhance your beauty).

Limiting or eliminating gluten from your diet means taking care of your microbiota, your body's homeostasis, and your skin's radiance.

In Chinese medicine, each season is considered to correspond to an organ.

In the fall, for example, orange and red foods, rich in beta-carotene, are beneficial. Carrots, squash, and sweet potatoes slow down the loss of radiance as skin loses its tan. They reduce the effect: "help, I'm going pale"! Indeed, when the summer tan fades and we start to lack vitamin D, it's the "boomerang effect" on our face. To increase our vitamin D intake, we should eat foods like small oily fish (sardines, mackerel), egg yolks, and start supplementing.

Likewise, green leafy vegetables (spinach, chard) are rich in vitamin A and boost our immunity. By adapting a seasonal diet, the body draws from the foods it needs to smoothly navigate interseasonal transitions. Nature has thought of everything!

Skin problems can be the first markers of a detox: pimples, blemishes, acne breakouts. The skin is an excretory organ, meaning it eliminates toxins through its pores. When the liver or intestines detoxify, these toxins can be released through the skin, which is when pimples and breakouts appear. This is a good sign: it means your detox is working. These breakouts often occur in people with sensitive or inflamed skin. They also happen in people experiencing recurring episodes of stress.

If you notice a lot of pimples appearing on your face at age 35, it means there may be a hormonal imbalance or chronic inflammation due to diet, stress, or lack of sleep. Adult pimples are multifactorial: hormones, stress, diet, genetics, skin care, environment, etc.

The side effects of a detox depend on its intensity and the method used: supplementation, complete fasting, intermittent fasting, carbohydrate reduction, etc. The most common symptoms include headaches, fatigue, irritability, nausea, and digestive disturbances (constipation or diarrhea: this is called purging). These reactions are generally caused by an increased release of toxins—heavy metals or pesticides stored in fat—and by the body's adaptation to a new energy source. Indeed, it switches from carbohydrates to fats when carbohydrates are drastically limited and when our body is not metabolically flexible.

When a liver isn't functioning optimally, it has a harder time eliminating toxins, which worsens inflammation and can lead to fatigue, digestive issues, and skin problems. This is where the vicious cycle begins: the liver has to juggle stress and inflammation, which can compromise its other functions. To restore balance, it's essential to reduce sources of stress and inflammation and adopt a diet that supports its detoxifying capacity.

Here's a list of foods to keep in your cupboards for flawless skin:

ZINC: Oysters, Pumpkin Seeds, Beef, Spinach, Cashews

VITAMIN A: Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, Spinach, Beef Liver, Red Peppers

VITAMIN E: Almonds, Avocados, Sunflower Seeds, Spinach, Hazelnuts

OMEGA-3: Salmon, Flax Seeds, Walnuts, Chia, Sardines

PROBIOTICS: Yogurt, Kefir, Sauerkraut, Kimchi, Miso

BIOTIN (B7): Eggs (yolk), Almonds, Cashews, Sweet Potatoes, Spinach

IRON: Red meat, Lentils, Spinach, Chickpeas, Chicken liver

B VITAMINS: Whole grains, chicken meat, fish, eggs, green vegetables

POLYPHENOLS: Green tea, Dark chocolate, Red fruits (strawberries, blueberries), Grapes, Nuts

GLA (GAMMA-LINOLENIC ACID): Evening Primrose Oil, Borage Oil, Hemp Oil

VITAMIN C: Oranges, Kiwis, Peppers, Broccoli, Strawberries

VITAMIN D: Oily fish (salmon, mackerel), Eggs, Beef liver, Mushrooms,

GLUTATHIONE: Asparagus, Spinach, Avocados, Broccoli, Garlic

COLLAGEN: Bone broth, Fish, Chicken

Eggs (membrane), Gelatin

COENZYME Q10: Red meat, Oily fish (mackerel, sardines), Spinach, Broccoli, etc.

In short, I would say: put nutrition at the heart of your beauty routine for healthy, glowing skin . Why? Because micronutrients act as catalysts in many biochemical reactions that support skin health and vitality: cell repair, collagen synthesis, and protection against external aggressions. To take care of your skin, you have to protect it from the inside out. And for a double protective effect, add a course of fresh pollen to boost the health of your gut microbiota!