A well-tailored psoriasis diet has incredible potential in reducing flares up.
As a chronic inflammatory skin disease, psoriasis and diet are closely linked, because oxidative stress and the generation of excessive free radicals could be caused by an unhealthy diet. Indeed, dietary habits that include high intake of fat, sugar, red meat and lower intake of fish or dietary fibres might influence the development, the progress, and the severity of psoriasis.
Because psoriasis is frequently linked with obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart diseases and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), maintaining an adequate diet is essential.
Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota, as well as Vitamin D and selenium deficiency have often been found in people diagnosed with psoriasis (Ref 1).
A psoriasis diet always includes plenty of fibre-rich foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and legumes. Those fibres will eventually be fermented in your gut. The results of this fermentation, will promote the growth of commensal/friendly bacteria and reduce the colonisation of pathogenic/bad bacteria, and thus correcting potential dysbiosis in your gut.
Short chain fatty acids that are produced when the friendly gut bacteria ferment fibres in the colon also help to reduce the inflammation, reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.
An autoimmune disease like psoriasis requires plenty of fish, rich in Vitamin D and omega 3 fatty acids, especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), essential for the normal functionality of your immune system.
Enrich your dishes with Brazil nuts, seafood, organic poultry, beans, lentils, barley, peas and potatoes. They are all high in selenium and Vitamin B12, both essential for the enzymatic activities in skin cells.
Multiple studies confirm that a gluten free psoriasis diet, as well as a diet rich in isoflavones with potent anti-inflammatory activity, may be beneficial to ameliorate psoriasis flare ups.
Addressing obesity is also important to reduce the chronic low-grade inflammation, which is associated with the incidence and severity of psoriasis (Ref 2).
If you suffer from psoriasis and would like to speak to us about a personalised diet then please get in touch.