The Relationship Between Psoriasis and Diet
Studies have shown that there is no direct link between psoriasis and diet. However, we cannot discount the fact that the food we eat and how much food we eat seems to have an effect on the severity and frequency of psoriasis flare ups.
It has been observed that people who are obese tend to have more severe cases of psoriasis. The possible reason for this is because people who are obese tend to have more skin folds than those who are within normal weight range. Psoriasis in the skin folds have a tendency to worsen because the skin rubs against each other and the folds hold more moisture and dirt. This irritates the skin, making the psoriasis flare up worse and making the skin more susceptible to infections.
Obesity can also exacerbate the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. Too much weight stresses the joints affected by arthritis. As the arthritis worsens, the psoriasis symptoms also tend to become more severe. Psoriasis sufferers who become overweight are at greater risk of developing psoriatic arthritis than those who are not. These are the reasons why most doctors recommend weight loss as part of the treatment plan for people with psoriasis.
In addition to losing weight, a proper diet for psoriasis may be able to reduce the severity of its symptoms. Our diet can affect our immune system. The immune system is responsible for controlling inflammation which is associated with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. To aid psoriasis treatment, an anti-inflammatory diet is often prescribed to help make the treatment more effective. In some cases, this psoriasis diet is used for treatment in mild cases of psoriasis.
Our modern diet which is full of fat, sugar, salt and preservatives often encourage inflammation. An anti-inflammatory diet counteracts inflammation with antioxidants and nutrients. An anti-inflammatory diet for psoriasis per day is usually composed of:
- 3-5 servings of fruits and vegetables
- 1-3 servings of lean protein (fish, chicken without the skin, lean pork)
- 1-3 servings of whole grain carbohydrates
- Use spices instead of salt to season your food
Using an anti-inflammatory diet as a psoriasis diet treatment also involves avoiding or limiting the consumption of certain foods like
- Foods that are high in saturated fat and trans fat
- Refined or processed food like canned or preserved foods
- Foods that have too much salt and/or sugar.
An anti-inflammatory psoriasis diet helps reduce the severity of the flare up my controlling the inflammatory process that happens after a person is exposed to a psoriasis trigger. By reducing the inflammation, you can reduce the severity of the psoriasis symptoms.
Another way your diet can help control psoriasis flare up is by avoiding or limiting your consumption of foods that can trigger this disease. Alcohol is a very common trigger and has been proven to increase disease severity. By drinking alcohol in moderation, you can reduce the severity of psoriasis and still be able to experience its health benefits.
Lastly, your diet can also affect the outcome of your psoriasis treatment. All drugs have interactions with certain foods. Some foods may enhance or block the efficacy of certain psoriasis drugs or treatments. Make sure to ask your doctor what type of foods you should avoid while undergoing treatment in order to get the best possible outcome.
Even if the relationship between diet and psoriasis is unclear, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t use food to help treat psoriasis. By eating healthily, you’ll be able to control your psoriasis and live healthier and better in the process.
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