Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disorder that appears as areas of thick, itchy, scaly red skin on your elbows, knees, face and other places. Your doctor may treat you with topical ointments, light therapy or prescription medications, but what you eat may also have an effect on your symptoms. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, you may be able to decrease the inflammation caused by psoriasis by emphasizing certain foods and avoiding others.
Psoriasis Defined
Psoriasis is predominantly an inherited condition that occurs in men and women with equal frequency. It is an autoimmune disease in which T cells, a type of white blood cell designed to attack invading organisms, become active erroneously and cause newly formed skin cells to rise to the surface of the skin much too quickly. The new cells accumulate to form thick patches of itchy, inflamed skin. Psoriasis symptoms may spontaneously improve and worsen over time, and factors extraneous to the disease, such as infections and stress, may cause symptoms to flare.
Foods to Eat
There is no "psoriasis diet," and a definitive link between nutrition and psoriasis has not been established, according to MayoClinic.com. However, if you have psoriasis, your doctor may recommend that you increase your intake of fruits and vegetables, lean meats like skinless chicken breast and fish like salmon, whole grains and low-fat dairy products. All these foods are considered anti-inflammatory foods because of the role they play in reducing inflammation throughout your body. In addition, the omega-3 fatty acids in salmon and other fish are available in fish oil supplements. These fatty acids may improve psoriasis symptoms not only by reducing inflammation, but also by diminishing your body's response to T cells. Before taking a fish oil supplement, you should consult your doctor about the risks and benefits associated with it.
Foods to Avoid
If you have psoriasis, there are certain pro-inflammatory foods you should avoid. These include saturated fats like those found in ice cream and red meat, sugar found in candy, refined grains like those found in white bread, white rice and white pasta and trans fats found in donuts, cookies and deep-fried food. In addition, you should avoid deli meats, hot dogs and sausage because these foods contain nitrites as preservatives. You should drink alcoholic beverages in moderation because excessive drinking promotes inflammation.
Sample Daily Menu
A menu of anti-inflammatory foods for a typical day might include a breakfast consisting of 1 cup of oatmeal with skim milk, 2 tbsp. of raisins and 1 tbsp. of walnuts -- 1/2 cup of blueberries and a cup of green tea complete the meal. A turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread with 1 tsp. of mayonnaise and red leaf lettuce and tomato, along with a 6-oz. glass of fruit juice, make a good lunch. For an afternoon snack, 1 cup of grapes provides anthocyanin antioxidants, and 2 tbsp. of mixed nuts give you some needed monounsaturated fat. For dinner, you can have baked salmon with brown rice, steamed asparagus and a spinach and red pepper salad. A 6-oz. glass of red wine provides inflammation-fighting polyphenols.
References
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases; Psoriasis; Sept. 2009
- National Psoriasis Foundation; Nutrition and Psoriatic Disease; March 2011
- MayoClinic.com; Psoriasis: Can Changing My Diet Treat Psoriasis?: Can Fish Oil Supplements Improve Psoriasis Symptoms?; Feb. 10, 2011
- Thegolfchannel.com: Ease Inflammation With the Right Foods
- Fitness Magazine: New Lifesaving Foods: The Anti-Inflammation Diet
