Psoriasis Diet: What It Is, Best Foods to Eat and Food You Should Avoid – GoodHousekeeping.com

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If youre one of the roughly 7.5 million Americans living with psoriasis, you know it isnt exactly fun. While you may go for years without symptoms, when you have a psoriasis flare-up, it can be everything from uncomfortable to downright distressing. And part of what makes it such a difficult condition to deal with is because you never know when a flare-up might occur and what could cause it. One biggie thats thought to cause flare-ups is food.

Certain types of foods appear to trigger or worsen psoriasis symptoms, and others may actually help tame signs of psoriasis, but everyone is different and foods that trigger flare-ups for some may not affect others with psoriasis, so pay attention to what seems to personally affect you, says Annie Gonzalez, M.D., F.A.A.D, a board-certified dermatologist at Riverchase Dermatology in Miami, Florida.

To help, we rounded up the best foods to eat if you have psoriasis and ones you should try to avoid, if you can.

Psoriasis is a skin disease with an unclear cause whats known is that it happens when the immune system goes into overdrive, triggering inflammation and inflammatory skin symptoms due to that overactivity that speeds up skin cell growth. The most common type of psoriasis (80%-90% of people with psoriasis have this kind) is called plaque psoriasis, characterized by patches of thick, raised skin that may itch and be red or partially covered in silvery-white scales; these patches can develop anywhere but tend to appear on the elbows, knees, lower back and scalp. Other ways a psoriasis flare-up may manifest is as tiny, salmon-to-pink colored bumps; smooth, raw-looking red patches around skin creases like the armpits; red, swollen skin dotted with pus-filled bumps; and as nail issues like tiny dents, rough crumbling nails, discoloration or lifting of the nail.

Weather, stress, infections (such as strep throat), smoking or secondhand smoke and certain medications, like those to treat high blood pressure are some common psoriasis flare triggers. Food is also thought to play a role in prompting of psoriasis flares. Specifically, inflammatory foods (a.k.a. foods that cause inflammation in the body) are thought to be common culprits, but more research in this area needs to be done. My advice is, if you notice your skin gets worse after eating certain foods, avoid and stop eating them to see what happens, says Dr. Gonzalez.

In general, eat a well-balanced diet thats high in fruits and vegetables and healthy fats this mix ensures youre consuming an array of nutrients and antioxidants that help prevent and reduce inflammation that could trigger a psoriasis flare-up.

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Fruits and veggies may reduce inflammation because theyre high in antioxidants and vitamins, which have been also been related to lower levels of oxidative stress and inflammation, says Gonzalez. Aromatics like onions and garlic are also smart to incorporate; they contain quercetin, an anti-inflammatory antioxidant.

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Heart-healthy fats and omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties that can help decrease inflammation to alleviate or prevent symptoms.

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Many of these flavor enhancers are also thought to play a role in taming inflammation.

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Foods to avoid if you have psoriasis:

Remember: Not every food on this list will definitely trigger a psoriasis flare-up, but if you do notice that your diet is affecting your skin, these inflammatory foods might be to blame, and cutting back or eliminating may help. Foods that have been known to trigger psoriasis include eggs, red and processed meat, canned produce, and packaged or processed foods, Gonzalez says.

These types of proteins tend to be high in saturated fat, an inflammation raiser and processed meats often contain preservatives, additives, and other flavor enhancers that may have a similar affect.

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These types of products often contain various inflammation triggers, such as added sugar, trans fat, preservatives, sodium and flavorings.

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Some research suggests that people with psoriasis may also be sensitive to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, possibly due to similar genetic and other inflammatory markers that affect people with Celiac disease.

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Everyone is different and different bodies will react differently to certain foods. Try jotting down which foods seem to impact your skin, so you can keep track and have that information on hand to consult with your doctor about your diet.

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Psoriasis Diet: What It Is, Best Foods to Eat and Food You Should Avoid - GoodHousekeeping.com