Nearly 8 million individuals in the U.S. are affected by psoriasis, where the body mistakenly attacks its own tissue and begins overproducing skin cells, which lays down plaques on your skin.
Autoimmune conditions impact the whole body, so lifestyle changes in addition to therapy may provide the best results. Here's how modifying your diet could help control psoriasis symptoms. Please consult with your physician for the best treatment course for you.
Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin disorder that causes the skin's cells to grow rapidly resulting in red itchy patches of skin and silvery scales that can be itchy or painful. Sometimes psoriasis is accompanied by psoriatic arthritis, an inflammatory joint condition.
Although the foods you consume don't cause psoriasis, there’s an important link between the two and healthcare. Many foods are known to cause inflammation throughout the body, and for people with psoriasis, the widespread irritation can make symptoms worse.
Certain foods trigger an inflammatory response in the body. Foods that are highly processed in particular, have been shown to put your body's defense mechanisms into overdrive.
Fatty foods typically increase inflammation throughout the body in your body fat. For those who are overweight, the presence of ongoing fat tissue inflammation will greatly increase your risk of psoriasis. It also increases your risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and other chronic health conditions.
Inflammatory foods also tend to be the same foods that are high in calories which lead to weight gain, diabetes and heart disease. There are several categories of inflammatory foods that can make psoriasis symptoms worse.
Added sugars in soda, fruit juices, candy, baked goods and other sweets are different from foods that have natural sugars. Our bodies produce insulin to process sugar, but too much added sugar forces our bodies to store that extra energy in fat cells, which inflame the fat tissue. Foods with lots of added sugars and artificial sweeteners can lead to increased levels of inflammation.
Excessive alcohol consumption makes your liver work overtime. It has to produce chemicals to metabolize the alcohol, which can lead to long-term inflammation if you drink heavily or regularly. Alcohol can also damage the good bacteria in your gut, which can lead to inflammation in your colon and intestines.
For some, psoriasis symptoms improve when they cut dairy from their diet. Most dairy products tend to be high in fat, leading to inflammation. Whether your lactose intolerant of have trouble digesting casein (a protein in cow's milk), chronic gastrointestinal irritation from these conditions can make inflammation worse.
Research shows that those with psoriasis tend to have higher rates of celiac disease. The gluten triggers an autoimmune response that causes the body to attack tissues in the small intestine. People with celiac disease should avoid gluten completely. Others have found that even just reducing gluten in their diet will lessen psoriasis flare-ups.
White bread, white rice, pasta, pastries and some breakfast cereals are highly processes, refined carbohydrates. These products have been stripped of fiber and whole grains and tend to contain a lot of sugar, which can cause your blood sugar to spike. Refined carbohydrates also increase advanced glycation, which are substances in your blood that can lead to inflammation.
These are the fats known as causing “bad cholesterol” which increase the amount of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in your blood. These fats are found in red meat, cheese, fried food, margarine, fast food and many processed snacks. Not only are these known to trigger inflammation in the body, but research suggests that there is a link between excess fat in the body, the development of psoriasis and worsening of psoriasis symptoms.
If you have prurigo nodularis, see this list of foods to avoid for relief!
Although there are some foods that will trigger inflammation, others can help combat it. Having a balanced whole-foods diet is the best approach to reduce inflammation in the body.
A healthy diet will reduce psoriasis flare-ups or make your symptoms less severe. For example, following a Mediterranean diet for psoriatic arthritis or psoriasis can also reduce chronic inflammation that contributes to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and other conditions.
Legumes (beans and lentils) have bioactive compounds like peptides, polyphenols and saponins, which exhibit antioxidant, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory and other biological activities.
Fish, lean protein or plant-based proteins such as tofu or tempeh, are foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to help hinder processes in the body that promote inflammation.
Most fruits and brightly colored vegetables naturally contain high levels of antioxidants, polyphenols, and anti-inflammatory activity.
Low fat dairy means fewer irritants such as toxins, chemicals and other compounds are able to cross the gut lining and get into the body to trigger inflammation.
Almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pecans, pistachios and walnuts contain high amounts of fiber, calcium, magnesium, zinc, Vitamin E and Omega-3 fats which all have anti-inflammatory effects.
Olive oil has an antioxidant, one of which is oleocanthal, which has been shown to work like ibuprofen, an anti-inflammatory drug.
Whole grain foods are rich in nutrients, dietary fibre, a range of antioxidants, and have potential to act in an anti-inflammatory manner.
If you’re thinking about changing your diet to help with your psoriasis systems, start slowly. Jumping into a highly restrictive diet isn’t usually sustainable and may deprive you of important nutrients. Instead, start by cutting out highly processed foods.
If clinic and lifestyle changes aren't helping your psoriasis, or eczema and atopic dermatitis, there are many therapeutics available to treat psoriasis and, often times, it involves a combination of multiple treatment types such as phototherapy, topical drugs, systemic drugs, as well as immunosuppressives, TNF's, and other biologic drugs. Learn more about Dermatology Specialty Pharmacy.
Senderra Specialty Pharmacy offers many medications that may be suitable for you. Learn more about our Psoriasis Specialty Pharmacy or contact a Senderra representative today!
Resources:
https://health.usnews.com/conditions/skin-disease/psoriasis/plaque-psoriasis/articles/could-changing-your-diet-help-with-managing-psoriasis
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/psoriasis-diet-foods-to-eat-and-avoid-if-you-have-psoriasis
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