Introduction
Whatever may be said, there is no such thing as a psoriasis diet. There has not been any evidence or results of studies to show that particular foods worsen your psoriasis.
However, if you feel that eating a certain food has worsened your psoriasis, it will be best for you to avoid that food.
Different “gurus” have blamed so many different foods for psoriasis and if you were to follow every one of them, you would be left with nothing to eat.
Research has been inconclusive on the effects of any dietary choices on psoriasis. But, we have evidence that certain foods do help while some foods can worsen the condition.
Therefore, the best advice will be to eat a healthy diet, which can help as a good natural cure. An anti-inflammatory diet plan with foods having anti-inflammatory properties to control inflammation and help the immune system control the disease.
Foods to eat if you have psoriasis
A healthy diet, if you have psoriasis, should consist of:
- Fruits of all kinds but especially strawberries, blueberries, apples, oranges, and cherries
- Vegetables of all kinds and especially leafy greens, such as spinach, kale, collard greens, and others; heart-healthy vegetables, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, and avocados; legumes, such as lentils, beans, and chickpeas.
- Whole grains cereals
- Bread of whole grains
- If you eat meat, eat lean meat
- Include omega-3 fatty acids in your diet because they help reduce inflammatory markers due to their anti-inflammatory properties and may improve the symptoms of psoriasis. You find them in plenty in fish like salmon and sardines and in flaxseeds.
- Supplement your diet with fish oil, especially cod liver oil. Besides being rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil contains vitamins A, D, and E.
- Studies suggest that antioxidants, like vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and selenium, may help in controlling the inflammation associated with this disease.
- Antioxidant-rich herbs and spices, like thyme, sage, cumin, and ginger can also help because they neutralize oxidative stress and prevent inflammation.
- Include heart-healthy sources of fat, such as olive oil, seeds, and nuts.
Foods to avoid if you have psoriasis
Some foods can make the inflammation of your condition worse. For example, red meat, dairy, and eggs contain arachidonic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid.
Research has shown that by-products of arachidonic acid may be responsible for causing psoriatic lesions. Therefore, avoid or eat less of these foods:
Avoid processed foods such as
- breakfast cereals
- cheese
- canned vegetables.
- bread
- snacks, such as sausage rolls, pies, and pastries.
- processed meat products, such as bacon, sausage, ham, and more
- microwave meals or ready meals
- cakes and biscuits
Avoid refined sugars such as
- Cookies, cakes, pastries
- Bread, pasta, and crackers
- Beverages such as coffee and tea
- Yogurt
- Tomato sauce
Avoid Nightshade vegetables
Some of the most common foods that have been reported to trigger psoriasis flare-ups are nightshade vegetables.
Nightshade plants contain solanine, a steroidal alkaloid saponin, which is known to interfere with the digestion process and cause inflammation. Such foods include:
- tomatoes
- potatoes
- peppers
- eggplants
Avoid dairy products
In addition to milk, you should avoid dairy products such as cream, butter, yogurt, kefir, and cheese.
Limit alcohol
The relationship between alcohol and psoriasis is not clear. Experts agree that alcohol if at all, harms the immune system and you should drink it in moderation or preferably avoid it totally.
It is one of the known psoriasis triggers due to its adverse effect on the pathway of the immune system.
Drinking heavily also interferes with the treatment and you don’t respond well to therapy. People with psoriasis also notice that their condition gets better when they stop drinking alcohol totally.
Avoid gluten: Follow a gluten-free diet
If you suffer from psoriasis and gluten sensitivity, your condition is likely to benefit from following a gluten-free diet. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, up to 25% of people who suffer from psoriasis have gluten sensitivity.
Gliadin IgA antibodies are found in 80% of patients with celiac disease, which is a health condition caused by the autoimmune response to the protein gluten.
Numerous studies have reported higher levels of these celiac disease markers in psoriasis patients. Researchers also believe that several psoriasis patients suffer from celiac disease without symptoms, and a number of such patients have reported an improvement in their symptoms with gluten-free diets.
Other dos and don’ts
1. Maintain proper weight
Studies have shown that obesity does increase the risk of psoriasis. If you are overweight or obese, do follow the weight-reducing diet and regularly do exercises to reduce weight.
Inverse psoriasis occurs in the deep folds of the skin, which is aggravated by friction of the skin and sweat in the skin folds. In an obese person, the skin folds are more deep and frequent.
2. Manage stress
Stress is the most common cause of psoriatic recurrences. Learning to manage stress well becomes very important. Take the help of a psychologist. Learning meditation will also be a good idea, and do it every day.
3. Sleep well
Sleeping well is good for stress and skin repair. However, sleeping well with psoriasis is a problem because of the itching.
To avoid scratching your skin during sleep, wear cotton gloves while sleeping, take antihistamines before sleeping to reduce itching, do not take caffeine beverages before going to sleep, and keep your psoriasis patches covered.
4. Exercise regularly
Exercise regularly because it helps to keep down the stress and anxiety levels. It also helps in maintaining proper body health and the health of your body systems including your heart and the joints. Exercise also helps to get proper sleep.