Dietary Modification for Psoriasis Patients
Psoriasis is an autoimmune inflammatory skin disease. Though the condition mainly impacts the skin, it can lead to complications related to joints, cardiovascular organs and the central nervous system. In fact, approximately 5-20 % of people affected by this condition have to face joint-related disorders like psoriasis arthritis symptoms.
Like many other dermatological diseases, diet can have a significant role in managing and treating psoriasis flare-ups. Today, we will be mentioning the key insights regarding what must be and what must not be part of the diet for a psoriasis patient.
Does our diet have an impact on psoriasis symptoms?
Psoriasis is a long-term disease. It starts due to some kind of malfunctioning in our immune system. The consequence is the excessive production of skin cells that appear on our body in the form of red, scaly patches. These patches can be itchy and distressing.
This condition is not caused by anything you eat. Infact, making changes in your diet won’t offer you a permanent solution for psoriasis. However, there seems to be a connection between psoriasis and your diet. Certain foods are known to be not suitable for the consumption of psoriasis patients, while some foods might support the healing of the condition. For more personalised tips on psoriasis diet you must refer to your healthcare provider.
Good foods for psoriasis patients
As we mentioned in the very first line of the blog, psoriasis is an inflammatory disease. There are foods that can trigger this inflammation. However, the way the body reacts to food can vary from person to person. Following are the general tips about foods that might help alleviate inflammation and offer other such benefits;
- Omega-3 fatty acid-containing foods: These include vegetarian options like walnuts, flaxseeds, and chia seeds. Rajma is also considered a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. Non-vegetarians can include seafood such as salmon, tuna, and sardines in their meals. They are recognised for their anti-inflammatory properties and may help relieve psoriasis symptoms.
- Whole grains: These are high in fibre and can help reduce inflammation. Not only this, whole fibres consist of a variety of nutrients and minerals that support our body in processes like the formation of new cells, lowering blood pressure and healthy digestion. However, psoriasis patients must choose gluten-free whole grains, like brown rice, corn, and millet, which are naturally gluten-free.
- Fresh fruits and vegetables: Organic fruits and veggies are packed with antioxidants, which are known for protecting our cells from inflammation. As most fruits and vegetables are also high in fibre, they are easy to digest. You can try including at least one fruit per day, preferably apples, pears, and bananas. Do add as many vegetables as possible to your dishes.
- Turmeric: Turmeric and ginger are the two most common spices with anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric helps to reduce the cycle of inflammatory processes that cause psoriasis flares. In other words, turmeric can help delay the inflammatory process that causes psoriasis, lowering the intensity of symptoms.
- Plant-Based Food: Different skin diseases can be treated using a vegetarian or vegan diet. There is evidence that psoriasis patients’ symptoms were reduced with a plant-based diet as it is associated with better anti-inflammatory profile. A vegetarian diet is also reported to have low levels of proinflammatory genes in the gut microbiome.
Food psoriasis patients must avoid
There are certain foods known to be not suitable for a person with psoriasis. This is because they are high in calories and lead to weight gain, increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes as well as heart issues. Following, we will be mentioning such food items;
- Alcohol: Drinking can harm the blood vessels present in the skin. It will also cause disturbances in favourable bacteria within your gut that bring about inflammation within your colon and intestines.
- Gluten: This is a component of certain grains like wheat and barley. Some people with this condition can be sensitive to gluten.
- Dairy: One of the key ingredients of most dairy products is natural inflammatory arachidonic acid. They are known to support inflammation and, hence, are not suitable for psoriasis patients.
- Refined carbohydrates: Products made from refined carbohydrates, like white bread and pasta, are highly processed. They also contain a lot of harmful sugary content.
- Junk food: As the disease is also an inflammatory condition, junk foods and many other highly processed foods contain saturated and trans fats as well as refined starches and sugars, all of which increase inflammation.
- Red meat: Fats present in red meat are known to trigger inflammation in the body. They can also increase the level of “bad cholesterol” in the blood, which acts as psoriasis triggers.
- Sugary Goods: Our bodies create insulin to digest our sugar, but extra-added sugar forces our body to store that energy as the fat cells and inflame the fat tissue. In addition, foods rich in many added sugars tend also to increase the level of other inflammatory proteins known as cytokines.
Psoriasis is a highly treatable and manageable condition. Your diet is a bank account. Good food choices are good investments. Eating well can definitely help you manage and minimise the flare-ups. They can also help the medical plan work effectively. For more personal recommendations, you may contact your doctor.
Management and Treatment
Homeopathy has been widely recognised for offering an effective and natural treatment for psoriasis. By “effective and natural”, we are trying to emphasise the safe, gentle, and side-effect-free approach offered by the medical system. Homeopathic medicine for psoriasis is made up of natural substances in minute doses, making it completely safe for patients.
Along with treating the conditions, homeopathic doctors also focus on correcting the malfunctions of the immune system and boosting the body’s natural healing mechanism. Homeopathic treatment for psoriasis has proven to be successful for a number of patients.
Bharat Homeopathy – Combating Psoriais with Homeopathic Approaches
Examining every aspect of the patient’s illness, prescribing personalised medicines and providing them with an understanding of appropriate changes in diet and lifestyle. This is a simple explanation of Bharat Homeopathy’s treatment approach, which has been successful in curing psoriasis for thousands of patients.
Doctors at Bharat Homeopathy believe in treating the causative factors behind the occurrence of the condition in the first place and minimising the chances of recurrence. We have a team of highly skilled skin specialists who work in cooperation to offer a complete cure to each and every patient for their condition. To witness the power of homeopathic treatment for plaque psoriasis and all other forms of the disease, contact us now without further delay.
