Food Choice For Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic condition occurs in people due to several reasons including an overactive immune system. Sometimes chronic body inflammation might cause psoriasis symptoms like red plaques, itchiness, red skin spots on skin surface.

There is no cure psoriasis but there are different ways to control the condition. In psoriasis excess skin inflammation that happens due to overactive immune system and it forces body to produce new skin cells in faster rate than normal skin cells. Accumulation or piling up of skin cells on surface makes it unable for shed quickly causing scaling and plaques. The inflammation that happens deep down in the body contributes to the appearance on skin surface. This will appear red, itchy, flaky, raised, silvery or inflamed. 

What triggers psoriasis? Factors that can trigger, appear, reappear or worsen psoriasis vary from person to person.

Injury to skin – Any injury to skin will activate immune system and aggravate psoriasis.

Stress – Stress can trigger body inflammation and psoriasis keeps appearing

Infection– Fighting foreign invaders makes immune system active. In psoriasis overactive immune system can send faulty signals causing inflammation even after infection cleared

Weather – Fall, winter and cold weather increases psoriasis

Diet and food choice play a major role in controlling psoriasis. There are certain foods that could trigger body inflammation. Finding out which are these foods that trigger and worsen psoriasis is key for reducing the symptoms. This will help to keep immune system under check.

Foods to avoid if you have psoriasis:

Dairy and red meat: The polyunsaturated fatty acid called arachidonic acid and its byproducts present in red meat can cause lesions on skin. Avoid red meat, egg and food products containing egg. Reduce dairy product intake.

Gluten: Autoimmune response to gluten protein causes celiac disease. Psoriasis condition worsens with gluten presence. Find out whether you have gluten allergy. Avoid foods that contain gluten like – rye, malt, barley, pasta, wheat, processed foods, certain condiments, malt beverages etc.

High calorie processed foods: Chronic conditions can be stimulated by processed and canned food. Psoriasis flare-up happens by consuming canned vegetables, fruits, processed foods with excess sugar, fat and salt. Stop eating processed meat.

Avoid nightshade family: Majority of our vegetables comes from nightshade family also known as potato/tomato family. Solanine content in nightshade members cause allergy and inflammation. Eggplants, green chilis, capsicum. Sometimes potatoes and tomatoes too can trigger psoriasis in some people.

Alcohol:  Inflammation of body after drinking alcohol is known fact. Alcohol increases body heat and disrupts system. Alcohol contents can also cause skin irritation, allergy and rash that could trigger psoriasis.

What are the foods that help fight inflammation and psoriasis?

Including anti-inflammatory foods in your diet will help to manage psoriasis. Studies suggest that watching what we eat could help prevent body inflammation and overactive immune system. Anti-inflammatory foods that one should consider are:

1. Turmeric: Include turmeric in your food. You can mix turmeric, amla (Indian gooseberry) or Turmeric- moringa powder and have in warm water.
2. Fresh fruits and vegetables: Blueberries, cherries, apple, avocados, fruits vitamin C and leafy vegetables such as spinach, Amaranthus, coriander (cilantro) etc., carrot, orange are good anti-inflammatory foods
3. Include spices such as cumin, sage, red chilli powder (not green chilli)
4. Include healthy omega fats like olive oil, coconut oil, dry fruits and nuts in daily diet in moderation
5. Other foods that help to reduce inflammation: Aloe vera, Neem, Moringa, Milk thistle, probiotics, Vitamin D & B12, zinc supplying foods like pumpkin seeds, beans, chickpeas.
6. High fiber food: Including fibrous food is essential because bad gut/digestive system or constipation triggers psoriasis. Proper digestion means good detoxification process of the entire system.

Another important aspect to keep in mind is, maintaining healthy weight and proper body mass index (BMI). The more we obsessed, chance of body inflammation that flare ups psoriasis is more. Keep your weight under control and it helps to prevent psoriasis symptoms.

Psoriasis affects millions of people and could show up in any stage of life. For some it is bearable and for some it could create more problem. Important is controlling underlying body inflammation and overactive inflammation by including proper anti-inflammatory food in everyday diet.

Image credit: Image by Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay  (Free for commercial use)