Diet and Psoriasis: How Foods Affect Inflammation

Can psoriasis be reversed with diet? 

Developing healthy eating habits, consuming a lot of fruits and vegetables, steering clear from dairy products, and adding lean proteins and whole grains to your everyday meals can definitely benefit psoriasis patients by reducing the symptoms and easing inflammation. However, making dietary changes alone is not sufficient to cure psoriasis permanently. Patients need to seek proper medical advice to control the progression of the diseases.

Today, in this blog, we will be mentioning foods that can significantly benefit psoriasis patients, along with a checklist of lifestyle changes that patients must adopt. However, before discussing the psoriasis diet recommendations, let us quickly have a glance at psoriasis and its symptoms.

What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a long-term autoimmune disease. It affects skin health, causing silvery-white patches that itch and pain. The condition arises due to the overproduction of skin cells. Although it can affect anyone at any age, most patients develop the condition within 20 to 30 years of age. The severity of psoriasis varies according to its type and a person’s overall health. Other symptoms associated with the disease include;

• Red, flaky, thick patches on the skin:

  Also known as plaques, these patches can appear anywhere on the body, but they are most commonly found on the joints, scalp, legs, arms, and torso. 

• Itching, burning, or psoriasis flare-ups:

  The affected skin may feel irritated and can sometimes bleed. 

• Dry, cracked skin:

  This condition can also lead to itching or bleeding. 

• Thick and ridged nails:

  Psoriasis can also impact your nails, resulting in yellowing or the formation of pits. 

• Poor sleep:

  Individuals with this condition may experience decreased sleep quality. 

• Joint pain:

  Psoriasis is often linked to psoriatic arthritis symptoms, a type of joint pain characterised by morning stiffness that typically improves with movement.

The condition affects approximately 125 million people worldwide. In fact, it is one of the most common autoimmune skin diseases. Now, the question that arises over here is exactly how an issue affecting our skin can be controlled with the help of dietary modifications. Well, in the next section, we will try to understand the connection.

Understanding the connection between diet and psoriasis

Diet can have a much more significant impact on psoriasis than thought. As psoriasis occurs due to inflammation of skin cells, including anti-inflammatory foods in your psoriasis treatment diet can help slow down the further progression of the disease. One important thing to mention here is that nothing you can eat can cause psoriasis. Most often, it arises due to genetic concerns. 

Fatty foods can lead to increased inflammation in adipose tissue (body fat), which is present throughout your body. Persistent inflammation of fat tissue, often seen in individuals who are overweight or obese, significantly raises the risk of developing psoriasis, especially if there is a family history of the disease. Additionally, this inflammation heightens the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune and other chronic health conditions. Now, let’s have a look at the list of the most suitable foods for patients with psoriasis.

Healthy diet for psoriasis patients

Following are the food items that must be a part of your diet plan on a regular basis, if you have the condition; 

Balanced meals

Consuming a nutritious and healthy diet can help lessen psoriasis symptoms or how often they happen. You can also try to lose excess body weight by exercising regularly and eating smaller meals. Try to add a lot of fruits, green vegetables, and whole grains in maximum amounts in those small meals. 

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Adding food items rich in omega-3 fatty acids to your meals can help your body fight against the inflammation associated with the condition. When these nutrients get into the blood, they help to smooth the movement of the body’s cells, minimising inflammation. Our body is incapable of producing omega-3 fatty acids on its own, so you can try including the mentioned foods in your diet;

• Fresh, fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel and tuna
• Flax seeds and chia seeds
• Walnuts
• Avocados and berries

High-quality proteins: 

Patients diagnosed with psoriasis should prioritise incorporating only high-quality proteins into their list of the best foods for psoriasis to support their health and well-being. 

• Lean protein: Fish like salmon, sardines, trout, and cod. 
• Plant-based proteins: Tofu and tempeh. 
• Eggs: Particularly egg whites, which are low in fat and cholesterol, are also low in calories and abundant in protein.
• Other foods: Fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, olive oil, and a little low-fat dairy.

The right type of fats

People with psoriasis might find it helpful to eat foods that are high in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) because they can lower inflammation. Other dietary changes that could help with psoriasis include:

• Antioxidants: Eat food items that are high in antioxidants, such as vitamin A, vitamin E, carotenoids, flavonoids, and selenium. 
• Vitamin D: It is good to spend some amount of time in the sunlight. 
• Different diets: You might try a Mediterranean diet, a vegetarian diet, or a gluten-free diet.
• Herbs and spices: Patients might benefit from using herbs like basil and amla as well as spices like turmeric.

So, consuming these best foods to eat for psoriasis, along with a proper medical plan, can be helpful for the patients. Now, let us have a look at the lifestyle change checklist for patients;  

Lifestyle Change Checklist for Psoriasis Patients

Patients must consider making the below-mentioned lifestyle changes;

•  Try to keep a healthy weight and eat a Mediterranean-style diet.
• Do moderate exercise (like brisk walking, jogging, cycling, dancing, or gardening) most days of the week.
• Add some lightweight training to your routine.
• Drink alcohol in moderation.
• If you smoke, try to stop. Smoking can create harmful free radicals.
• Try to lower stress in your life. You can meditate, do tai chi or yoga, or spend time with friends and family.
• Keep your skin moisturised by gently drying it after a shower or bath and then using a natural lotion.

So,  this was all about diet and lifestyle changes that can benefit psoriasis patients. Ultimately, these dietary and lifestyle changes can create a comprehensive approach to managing psoriasis, helping patients lead healthier, more comfortable lives in addition to a treatment plan.

Get a successful treatment for psoriasis with Bharat Homeopathy

With a comprehensive treatment strategy, including a diet plan, homeopathic remedies, and lifestyle changes catered to the unique needs of the patient, Bharat Homeopathy provides a highly personalized treatment for autoimmune conditions such as psoriasis.

Our treatment plans are designed to address the root cause of the condition and offer relief from the symptoms. As our homeopathic medicine for psoriasis is made up of natural substances, they are 100 % safe and side-effect-free in nature. We have a team of experienced skin specialists and supportive staff members to uplift the healing journey of every patient. For more enquiries about our homeopathic treatment for psoriasis, please contact us today.