The Bachelor's Bekah Martinez is fairly outspoken (except for when it comes to her age [1]). She had no qualms living her best life in a pixie cut — the shortest in the history [2] of the mostly beach-waved show — or making her disdain for Arie Luyendyk Jr.'s final proposal known [3]. So, it would make sense that she wouldn't stay silent about her acne journey either, which she just revealed on Instagram.
Over the course of a year, the nanny from Fresno, CA pretty much erased a severe case of cystic acne that left her "hopeless." When topical and prescription medications didn't work, Martinez went straight to the source: "an unhealthy gut." To add good bacteria back into her body, Martinez cut meat, gluten, and dairy (kefir being an exclusion) from her diet, and began eating more probiotic-rich foods.
Read on to see how Bekah turned her skin around.
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Farmhouse Culture Gut Shots
This vegan probiotic ($30 at health food stores) has a tangy taste that Martinez describes as "pretty awful at first" — it's made with cabbage and caraway seeds.
Bio-K Probiotic Shots
While one kind of Bio-K Probiotic Shot ($30 at health stores) is made with dairy, vegans can opt for a fermented rice option. Martinez drinks a quarter or half shot a day, and says it tastes "like liquid sour cream (nasty)." Despite that, it supports gut health and helps boost an immune system.
Mother in Law's Kimchi
And now, for the "love" of Martinez's life: House of Nappa Cabbage Kimchi [7] ($51 for 6). The influencer cops to being "obsessed" with the fermented condiment, which you can add to sandwiches, appetizers, or grilled protein. Since it contains bone broth and fish sauce, this isn't vegan, but it is gluten-free.
Maple Hill Kefir
Maple Hill Kefir [8] ($7) is a fermented drink made of milk from grass-fed cows. Martinez describes it as a "liquid yoghurt," and drinks it with breakfast or on its own as a midday snack.
Lightlife Tempeh
Lightlife Tempeh [9] ($3) is a soy cake that some people compare to tofu as a meat-alternative. However, as Martinez wrote, tempeh is fermented and therefore contains more probiotics. Just note that you wouldn't want to eat tempeh as is, though you could use it as the base for tacos, breakfast hash, or mixed with beans for a vegan burger.