Psoriasis -- which causes red, itchy and scaly patches or lesions to appear on your skin -- occurs when your skin cells grow at an abnormally fast rate because your immune system sends them faulty signals. More than 7 million Americans have psoriasis, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. If you're a psoriasis patients, you may find some relief by eating food that fights psoriasis.
Vegetables
Vegetables are rich in antioxidant vitamins such as A, C and E, which help fight psoriasis by strengthening your immune system, reports the National Psoriasis Foundation. The foundation recommends eating a wide variety of different kinds of vegetables every day to maximize the types of antioxidants your body gets. Many people with psoriasis also lack enough of the B-vitamin folate in their bodies, Women Fitness.net says, but green leafy vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli and Brussels sprouts are good dietary sources of folate that may help fight psoriasis.
Fish
Fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory properties that can fight psoriasis. Psoriasis patients who have regularly taken fish oil supplements containing the omega-3 fatty acid EPA have experienced mild to moderate improvement of their psoriasis symptoms, reports the National Psoriasis Foundation. People who eat fish regularly or take fish oil supplements have fewer flare-ups of psoriasis than people who don't eat fish or take fish oil supplements, reports Women Fitness.net, which adds that fish such as tuna, trout, mackerel, salmon and sardines are especially rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Since the National Psoriasis Foundation suggests eliminating red meat from your diet to see if that improves your psoriasis symptoms as it has for some people, you may consider replacing red meat with fish in the meals you eat regularly.
Nuts and Seeds
Flaxseed also contain lots of the omega-3 fatty acids that can decrease the inflammation that leads to psoriasis flare-ups, Women Fitness.net says. Brazil nuts are rich in a mineral called selenium that stops the formation of substances called leucotrienes, which could make your psoriasis symptoms worse, reports Women Fitness.net.
