Psoriasis is a chronic variant of dermatopathology, characterized by the formation of reddish-silvery papular rashes on various parts of the body. It is more often formed in the children's age category, but it can initially occur after 20-35 years.
Causes of occurrence:
- metabolic disorders;
- pathology of the gastrointestinal tract;
- dysbiosis;
- chronic stressful situations;
- presence of negative habits, for example, alcohol abuse.
Since the skin is a single giant organ, the appearance on it of various rashes, including those of a psoriatic nature, requires diagnostic studies and an integrated therapeutic approach.
Diet therapy is a significant factor on the way to getting rid of unaesthetic formations. The correct diet in combination with drug therapy are the main directions of modern methods of influencing the disease.
The most important thing that will have to be monitored while maintaining proper nutrition for psoriasis is drinking a sufficiently large amount of water per day, from seven to ten glasses. The liquids consumed must be of high purity, and in the case of juice consumption, it is recommended to cook freshly squeezed ones.
The basics of proper nutrition
The body of each person is unique, therefore, a specialist has to select an adequate diet in each case strictly individually - a single menu for all people with psoriasis simply does not exist.
The main task of diet therapy in identifying pathology is to maintain an adequate acid-base environment in the patient's body. The balance should tilt in favor of an alkaline environment, since an acidic one only aggravates the course of pathology. Experts recommend that you include 2-4 times more alkaline foods in your diet.
Basic principles:
- eat fractionally - in small portions, 4-5 times a day;
- consume 2 - 2. 5 liters of liquid per day;
- adjust the diet so that the intestines are not overloaded;
- timely emptying of the intestines is the basis of health, carefully monitor the timeliness of the release of toxins;
- at the time of exacerbation of the pathology, it is recommended to enrich the body with mineral acids and organic elements: no more than 20%, the rest should be alkaline products;
- maximum rejection of alcoholic beverages, tobacco products;
- reduce the amount of table salt in the diet;
- to minimize the use of preservatives, emulsifiers, dyes, stabilizers and disintegrants;
- avoid all citrus fruits in the diet as much as possible - in addition to oranges, lime and grapefruit are also included in this subgroup;
- focus on the use of cereals and fermented milk products, vegetable oils - but also in small quantities.
Compliance with the above principles helps to reduce the number of exacerbations of psoriasis to a minimum, to achieve long periods of remission of the disease.
What should be discarded
During the consultation, the specialist will especially emphasize that you cannot eat with psoriasis. Diet therapy provides for the maximum rejection of the list of individual products, but it necessarily provides a complete diet that supplies the patient with all the nutrients.
What is recommended to refuse:
- Numerous studies carried out by specialists among people suffering from psoriatic eruptions have convincingly shown that spices provoke an exacerbation of the disease. The maximum concentration of essential oils and aromatic elements in them is very harmful for people with dermatopathology - it leads to an itching sensation on the skin, a debilitating burning sensation, and an aggravation of the pathology.
- A variety of nuts have a similar negative effect on the skin. The most allergenic product is peanuts. It is recommended to avoid as much as possible as nuts in their pure form, and in the form of various additives. Peanut butter is completely removed from the diet.
- A variety of spicy, smoked, canned foods have a particularly irritating effect on the tissues of the intestinal loops. They irritate the mucous membrane and prevent adequate processing and absorption of nutrients. This is what leads to the appearance of new defects on the dermis - psoriatic plaques and scales.
- A significant percentage of essential oils that are toxic to psoriasis patients are also found in citrus peel. It is for this reason that experts recommend refusing to include in the diet not only the fruits themselves, but also the juices from them, since with the industrial method of production it is squeezed out without removing the zest.
- Inflammatory manifestations on the dermis can also be caused by arachidonic acid, which is saturated with meat. When compiling the menu, preference is given to white varieties, for example, turkey and rabbit meat.
- The most extreme limitation is imposed on alcoholic beverages based on grapes. It is during their fermentation that aromatic compounds are formed, which have the most negative effect on the state of the dermis. Liver structures also suffer, the filtration capacity of the organ decreases in general, toxins and toxins accumulate - psoriasis worsens.
A well-designed diet also leads to the normalization of a person's weight; such a complication of psoriasis as arthritis can be distant for a long time if a person adheres to the basic nutritional recommendations received from a specialist during a consultation.
Approved Products
The opinion of dermatologists all over the world is unanimous - one should not rush to extremes and severely limit oneself in nutrition. Before adjusting the diet, a specialist will carry out a variety of diagnostic procedures to identify the most negatively affecting foods. Based on this, a decision will be made on what can be eaten with psoriasis for this particular person.
The following elements have a positive effect on the condition of the skin:
- a variety of unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids. Natural antagonists of arachidonic acid, they, being in marine fish, have the best effect on the dermis;
- a variety of vegetables contain vitamins and caratinodes - they optimally affect the protective barriers of the human body, multiply the activity of immune structures, contribute to the maximum resistance to negative external factors that can provoke an exacerbation of dermatopathology;
For those who suffer from psoriatic eruptions, it is useful to:
- add lecithin in the form of granules to the diet;
- replace coffee and coffee drinks with medicinal teas;
- eat more variety of vegetables;
- drink freshly squeezed juices more often;
- to abandon artificial flavoring options as much as possible - replace them with freshly grown herbs;
- it is useful to include fresh berries in the diet: gooseberries and viburnum, mountain ash and currants, blueberries;
- a variety of cereals will bring maximum benefit - oatmeal, buckwheat, millet;
- sea fish should be present on the table at least 4 - 5 times a whole week, but it is recommended to steam it;
- poultry dishes are allowed up to 3 - 4 times in the current week, carefully removing all skin;
- milk and milk-containing products are allowed only those in which a reduced content of fat and table salt is indicated;
- eggs should be soft-boiled - 3-4 times a whole week;
- of oils are acceptable - olive, cottonseed, corn.
Thus, the diet for psoriasis is based on the use of simple, varied, and highly fortified foods.
Starvation
An indispensable condition for a full-fledged diet therapy for psoriasis is the mandatory cleaning of the human body - healing fasting helps in this. A person is advised to select a day in his schedule, throughout which only distilled liquid will enter his body.
The next day, vegetable salad is allowed for breakfast, the use of monastery tea - and again following the compiled menu of the daily diet.
The result from healing fasting and careful observance will be maximum - after 20-35 days a person will feel a general improvement in well-being, the skin will clear up faster.
Frequent fasting should not be practiced - stick to the golden mean: no more than 1 cleansing day per week. A variety of cleansing procedures, practiced in beauty salons, are also prohibited - they will only disrupt the natural balance in the intestinal loops, and so suffering from psoriasis.
Clean and radiantly beautiful skin is an attainable result, even with a diagnosis of psoriasis. The main thing is to adhere to the diet therapy individually compiled by a specialist, in combination with medications - as needed.