Psoriasis can be a very troublesome, even painful, skin disease. In order to combat the condition and its symptoms, many people opt to subscribe to a psoriasis diet. Such a psoriasis treatment is generally focused around a gluten-free diet high in vegetables, fruits, and proteins.
Doctors believe some foods may worsen symptoms or trigger flare-ups, and some foods that could actually serve as psoriasis treatments to help your body better respond to the disease. But not much scientific proof is available to back up any of these theories.
Here are some foods suspected of being able to influence psoriasis for the better and for the worse.
You may want to consider eliminating or reducing these foods in your diet:
• Wheat gluten and yeast. Some of the strongest scientific evidence linking psoriasis to diet involves the role of gluten in the disease. Recent studies have found a potential association between celiac disease and psoriasis.
• The evidence surrounding gluten intolerance has led many to suspect that yeast intolerance also might play a factor in psoriasis, particularly the type of yeast known as candida. While research has linked candida infection with a worsening of psoriasis symptoms, there have been no studies that directly suggest that yeast intolerance plays a role in psoriasis.
• Alcohol. Another well-known trigger for psoriasis is alcohol, which tends to dilate the blood vessels.
• Fatty red meat and dairy. Psoriasis is an inflammatory disease, so it makes sense to avoid foods that prompt an inflammatory response. Fatty red meats are known to increase inflammation, as are whole milk and other high-fat dairy products.
These foods may be added to improve your diet:
• Fish. Oily fish such as salmon and tuna contain plentiful amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been scientifically proven to help reduce inflammation. Fish also contains large amounts of vitamins A and D, both of which are important nutrients for skin growth.
• Vegetables and fruits. Vegetables like broccoli and spinach are also a good source of vitamins as well as other key nutrients for skin development. Colorful vegetables are also loaded with antioxidants, which are believed to help reduce inflammation.
• Herbs. A number of herbs are believed to be effective psoriasis treatments, including burdock root and oregano oil (which are eaten) and cayenne, Oregon grape, avocado oil, and aloe vera (which are rubbed on the skin in cream form).
While food may help your symptoms, you need to avoid fad diets that ask you to take extreme measures. These diets are likely to harm your health by robbing you of important nutrients while providing minimal relief for psoriasis.
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