The exact cause of the skin condition psoriasis remains unknown but potentially stems from a faulty immune system response that causes it to attack healthy skin cells. This chronic skin condition often goes through periods of flare-ups and remissions or less severe symptoms. No official dietary interventions exist to treat psoriasis but research indicates that certain measures might help and it cannot hurt to experiment. You should talk to your doctor before making any drastic changes to your diet.
Overview of Potentially Beneficial Dietary Changes
A review of studies looking at the effects of various dietary interventions on psoriasis was published in the October 2005 issue of the "British Journal of Dermatology." Researcher Maike Walters of the University of Hannover in Germany notes vegetarian diets and diets rich in fatty fish and other foods containing omega-3 fatty acids reduced production of a particular inflammatory chemical that can trigger psoriasis outbreaks. Other studies found some psoriasis patients had a sensitivity to gluten, a type of protein found in wheat and related grains. They experienced an improvement in symptoms when they eliminated it from their diet. A particular result obtained in a study does not mean that the benefit will automatically translate to a larger number of people but you can use this information as a starting point to experiment with different changes to your diet to see if any work for you.
Gluten-Free Diet Guidelines
As awareness of sensitivities and outright allergies to gluten has expanded, you can find many products specifically formulated to be gluten-free. Not all are labeled as such so you must familiarize yourself with acceptable and unacceptable ingredients. Grains that contain gluten include wheat, barley, bulgur, durham, farina, graham flour, kamut, matzo, rye, semolina, spelt and triticale. Gluten-free grains include amaranth, arrowroot, buckwheat, corn, cornmeal, rice, soy, hominy grits, polenta, quinoa, rice and tapioca.
Anti-Inflammatory Diet
The foods you eat contain a variety of components that can either trigger or quell inflammation, the harmful process that sets off psoriasis outbreaks. As the study review suggested, omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to help -- good sources include salmon, tuna and other fatty fish, walnuts, flaxseed and hempseed. Foods rich in monounsaturated fats are also good choices and include olive oil, nuts, seeds, olives and avocados.
Polyunsaturated fats can also provoke inflammation when eaten in large amounts -- examples include sunflower oil, safflower oil and corn oil. Read food labels carefully, as most processed foods use these oils. Choose olive oil or canola oil when cooking. Saturated fats found in animal products and trans fats also provoke inflammation. Any product that names hydrogenated oil as an ingredient contains trans fat.
Other foods that promote inflammation include refined carbohydrates like white flour products and those high in sugar like soda and candy.
Determining Food Allergies or Sensitivities
Food sensitivities and allergens might also contribute to psoriasis outbreaks. You might consider getting tested for allergies or experimenting with an elimination diet, which involves cutting out certain foods for a set period of time and adding them back in to see if it affects your condition at all. To properly execute an elimination diet, you should do it under the supervision of your doctor or other qualified health care professional. The most common allergens include gluten, dairy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish and soy.
Other Considerations
The National Psoriasis Foundation reports research has shown alcohol use might contribute to the development and severity of the disease. It also notes that excess weight appears to increase the severity of symptoms. Regardless of the type of diet you decide to follow, you should aim to design an eating plan that will facilitate weight loss and help you keep it off.
