6 Foods to Eat and Avoid in Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a common skin inflammation condition that causes red, itchy scaly patches, most commonly on the knees, elbows, trunk, and scalp. It is said to be an autoimmune disease which means your immune system harms your body instead of protecting it.

It is very important to look after the dietary patterns to avoid Psoriasis flare-ups. Psoriasis flare-ups can be caused by many different triggers. Some of these triggers may include bad weather, excess stress, and certain foods. A diet high in anti-inflammatory foods should be encouraged to reduce the severity of the disease. Let’s see what all foods should be consumed and avoided to decrease the risk of this disease. Here, we have written below 6 foods to eat and avoid for the person suffering from Psoriasis:

Foods to Eat:

• Cruciferous vegetables: Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and kale contains high amount of fibre and vitamins. These foods are recommended because they also contain natural antioxidants and polyphenols which play a great role in reducing the body’s inflammation. They can help in reducing psoriasis flare-ups.
• Turmeric: Turmeric has a pungent, earthy flavour that most people either love or hate and a polyphenol called curcumin, which has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Add turmeric to your morning eggs, drink turmeric tea, whip it into a smoothie or sprinkle it over roasted veggies to make the best use out of it.
• Fatty fish and heart-healthy oils: Fish like salmon, lake trout, mackerel, tuna, cod, and sardines are high in healthy fats called omega-3s. Omega-3s have anti-inflammatory properties that can help keep psoriasis in check. Similarly, you can obtain similar benefits from heart-healthy oils, including olive oil and coconut oil.

Foods to Avoid:

• Gluten-rich foods: Celiac disease is a health condition in which the body has an autoimmune response to the protein gluten. People with psoriasis have been found to have an increased risk for gluten sensitivity. If you have psoriasis and gluten sensitivity, it’s important to cut out gluten-containing foods. Foods to avoid include wheat, rye, barley, and baked goods like pasta, noodles made out of them.
• Nightshades: Consumption of nightshades like tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, and peppers should be avoided. These foods are often linked to psoriasis flare-ups because these plants contain solanine, which has been known to affect digestion and can be a cause of inflammation.
• Processed foods: Highly processed foods such as cookies, crackers, and convenience foods or any processed foods high in sugar, salt and fat can often lead to obesity and other chronic health conditions since they are rich in low qualities calories. These foods can also cause inflammation to the body which leads to psoriasis flare-ups.

Over to you:

Few things need to be kept in mind if you wanted to keep your psoriasis in check. A diet high in anti-inflammatory foods like fruits and vegetables, turmeric, and fatty fish should be encouraged and low in gluten and processed foods. Eat delicious foods which are healthy for you and keep psoriasis at bay!