The list of prohibited foods for psoriasis includes table salt. Its consumption is limited, since it not only irritates the digestive tract, but also "attracts" water, contributing to the appearance of latent edema, weight gain and aggravation of pathological processes in the metabolism.
Spices and spicy dishes are excluded, which, in addition to negatively affecting the gastrointestinal tract and the nervous system, adversely affect the skin (aromatic substances and essential oils), provoke itching and inflammatory reactions in the skin.
Digestible carbohydrates (sugar, honey, sweets, etc. ) also cause inflammation and also contribute to weight gain. It is necessary to exclude products containing preservatives, dyes, stabilizers and flavor enhancers: they cause allergic and inflammatory reactions.
You should refrain from eating fatty foods, which aggravate disturbances in lipid metabolism, "add" extra pounds, "inhibit" the work of the digestive tract.
List of prohibited products:
- pastries, especially fresh ones, white bread, butter biscuits;
- rich meat soups;
- fatty meats (in particular pork), lard, sausages;
- smoked fish, meat, canned food;
- condiments (garlic, horseradish, vinegar, pepper, cloves, nutmeg);
- fatty dairy products;
- citrus fruits (a controversial issue, some nutritionists welcome them, others prohibit them);
- seafood (lobster, crabs, shrimps, mussels, oysters);
- highly allergenic fruits and berries (strawberry, pineapple, melon, strawberry, blueberry, mango, cranberry);
- vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes, pumpkin, legumes, eggplants, bell peppers);
- coffee, cocoa, chocolate;
- protein and butter creams, jam, honey, sweets;
- nuts, especially roasted and salted;
- eggs;
- easily digestible cereals (semolina, barley);
- offal.
The need to follow a diet
A patient on a psoriasis diet will soon notice a significant improvement in skin condition, a decrease in the frequency of relapses and the disappearance of itching and discomfort. In addition, nutritional therapy helps to normalize weight and the functioning of the digestive tract, improves the appearance of hair and nails, and stimulates the immune system.
Why you need a diet for psoriasis
After eating food, complex biochemical processes are triggered to break down and assimilate it. The pH in the body depends on the composition of food. When proteins are metabolized in tomatoes, eggplant, meat and fish, the environment becomes acidic. This is what often predisposes to the next recurrence of psoriasis. Therefore, the elimination of such products will help to avoid the appearance on the skin of the characteristic pink plaques covered with silvery scales. Compliance with a diet for a long time leads to a significant improvement in the body. How does this happen:
- metabolism is normalized;
- the body's immunity to the effects of external and internal negative factors increases;
- the quality of sleep improves, vitality increases, apathy and fatigue disappear.
There is a certain allergic component in the pathogenesis (mechanism) of the development of psoriasis. Even its symptoms are similar to typical signs of sensitization - the skin becomes inflamed, irritated, and rashes form. So it is advisable to exclude foods that provoke allergies from the diet. For example, chocolate, strawberries, citrus fruits.
Healthy foods
In psoriasis, any fermented milk products are useful, but only low in fat content. Nutritionists recommend that patients more often use soft cheeses without spices, varenets, fermented baked milk, yogurt, kefir. The diet of children should definitely include cottage cheese and drinking yoghurt without dyes and flavors. Also, the following products should be present in the weekly menu:
- boiled eggs or omelets;
- lean meats - turkey, rabbit, chicken breast, lamb;
- fatty fish - salmon, Norwegian herring, sardines;
- dried whole grain bread;
- cereal porridge - buckwheat, millet, wheat, corn;
- white cabbage salads, parsley beets, seasoned with any vegetable oil;
- zucchini, greens and celery roots, carrots.
Food must not be deep-fried or fried. They should be simmered in a little water or baked. Steamed vegetables, meat or fish retain the maximum possible amount of nutrients, macro- and microelements, fat- and water-soluble vitamins.
Nutritionists advise eating fruits and dried fruits as desserts. Especially useful is the daily use of figs, dried apricots, pineapple, grapes, cherries, peaches, dates. Of the citrus fruits, only grapefruit is allowed. The dense peel of the fruit must be cut off. Do not forget about nuts (walnuts, cashews, pistachios, hazelnuts), pumpkin and sunflower seeds. They perfectly alkalize the body, minimizing the risk of psoriasis recurrence.
Basic nutritional guidelines
The goals of following a diet for psoriasis are:
- reducing the number of exacerbations of the disease;
- reduction in the frequency and intensity of skin rashes;
- normalization of metabolism;
- stimulation of the body's defenses;
- improving the work of the digestive tract.
According to the classification, the diet for psoriasis does not have "its own table", which means that one should adhere to the general diet or treatment table number 15.
In the event of an exacerbation of the disease for several days, a hypocaloric diet with pureed food is recommended. Its energy daily value is 1800 kilocalories, protein content - 50-70 grams, fat - no more than 40-60 grams, carbohydrates - about 250-300 grams. The exclusion of allergenic foods is also shown.
The body of each person is individual, and therefore there are no clear restrictions on the consumption of a particular food. There are many developed dietary methods for psoriasis, the most famous of which are the Pegano diet and the Fire diet. They are similar in that they seek to regulate the acid-base balance in the body to stabilize the disease. That is, it is recommended to consume up to 70% of the daily diet of alkali-forming products and about 30% of acid-forming products.
General principles of a diet for psoriasis:
- drinking fluids; Free fluid intake should not be less than 2-2. 5 liters per day. Drinking plenty of fluids removes toxins from the body, normalizes kidney function, prevents the development of constipation and increases skin turgor.
- weight; Excess body weight indicates a deep metabolic disorder, in particular, lipid and carbohydrate. It is important to normalize weight, not overeat and exercise, as obesity disrupts the digestive tract and cardiovascular system. Normalization of weight improves the condition of the skin, since the content of C-reactive protein in the blood decreases, which increases with obesity.