When my husband was diagnosed with Psoriasis as a teenager, he was told categorically by his doctors that nothing in his diet or lifestyle could affect his skin or change his condition. Since then, a great deal has been learned about the effects that food and lifestyle have on the triggers that cause Psoriasis and the flare ups that are often so random and horrible. Despite the fact that there are still no real scientific studies to back this up, the vast amount of testimonials that are available to us online, serves as the best proof that a healthy diet and lifestyle can have an enormous impact on how much control you can have over this debilitating disease.
Psoriasis is an inflammatory condition, and therefore, it makes sense that an anti-inflammatory diet could help alleviate some of the symptoms that come with it.
For this reason, The National Psoriasis Foundation strongly recommends an anti-inflammatory diet and I’ve listed 5 important foods to add to your recipes to get started.
Avocados
The healthy fat found in avocados is full of Omega-3s, which moisturise the skin and prevent dryness and flakiness (an important benefit for psoriasis and eczema sufferers). Avocados make good food taste even better and help your body to absorb nutrients from other foods.
Green Tea
Green Tea is commonly known to be rich in antioxidants and it slows the production of skin cells. Some people find real relief bathing in Green Tea, but this may not always be practical, try to include it within your daily routine.
Chilli Peppers and Bell Peppers
These colourful foods are rich in quercetin, synaptic acid, ferulic acid, and other antioxidants with strong anti-inflammatory effects.
Mushrooms
They are very low in calories and rich in selenium, copper, and all the B vitamins. They also contain phenols and other antioxidants that provide anti-inflammatory protection. Best eaten raw as cooking removes those antioxidants.
Grapes
Grapes for psoriasis is not an understatement. They work because they alkalize the body and are excellent for stopping inflammation on the skin. Grapes are also one of the best sources of resveratrol (also found in Japanese Knotwood), which is a plant compound that acts like an antioxidant. In one study, people who consumed grape extract daily, experienced a marked decrease in inflammatory gene markers.
We’ve also compiled a list of 5 foods to avoid because they are commonly known to trigger flare ups and create an acid environment in the gut.
