Calm inflammation and improve your skin with this list of good foods for psoriasis!
Psoriasis is not a skin disease. It is an autoimmune condition that causes the immune system to mistakenly attack the skin cells. Psoriasis is characterized by dry, itchy, scaly and red patches on the skin.
One of the ways to calm psoriasis is by eating a diet rich in nutrients such as omega 3 fatty acids, antioxidants, Vitamin A and others. Below, let’s look at the top 10 list of good foods for psoriasis:
Top 10 List of Good Foods for Psoriasis
1. Blueberries
Blueberries are powerful antioxidant-rich berries. An antioxidant-rich diet is highly recommended for people with psoriasis because they strengthen the immune system and fight inflammation and oxidative stress.
Add blueberries to healthy smoothies, eat a handful of fresh blueberries or add them to your salads.
2. Carrots
When it comes to eating for psoriasis, it’s recommended to fill your place with fruits and vegetables. This is because fresh produce is packed with antioxidants and inflammation-fighting compounds.
Carrots are rich in beta carotene, Vitamin C and a nutrient called psoralen which is a compound that has been used in the treatment of psoriasis, vitiligo and eczema.
3. Avocado
What makes avocado a good food for psoriasis is it’s healthy fats. Fats generally have a bad rap when it comes to healthy eating, but there’s something called ‘good’ fats which are vital for a well-functioning body.
Healthy fats reduce inflammation and lubricate skin cells which improves the overall appearance of skin for psoriasis sufferers.
4. Wild Caught Fatty Fish
Wild caught fatty fish such as salmon, tuna and sardines are rich in omega 3 fatty acids. This nutrient is very important for healthy skin, hair and nails.
According to a 1998 study, over half the psoriasis patients who were put on a low-fat diet supplemented with fish oil for four months, experienced improvement in symptoms.
5. Turmeric
Turmeric is a golden superfood that is incredible as an anti-inflammatory and antibiotic food. You can consume turmeric in capsule form.
Or, my favorite Turmeric Tea, which is a mixture of hot water, raw honey, ¼ tsp turmeric powder and a dash of black pepper. Adding black pepper increases the bioavailability of the main compound in turmeric, curcumin, by 1000 times!
6. Garlic
An ancient medicinal herb, garlic is one of the best foods for psoriasis. Eating crushed garlic every day on an empty stomach can be very beneficial for psoriasis sufferers.
People with psoriasis have high levels of arachidonic acid in their skin and fatty tissues. These high levels are associated with high inflammation and can compromise the health of people with already weakened immune systems.
Garlic has the ability to inhibit the activity of lipoxygenase which is an enzyme that is involved in the inflammatory cascade caused by arachidonic acid.
The way I consume garlic every day on an empty stomach is by crushing it, letting it sit for 10 minutes then swallowing it with a gulp of water.
7. Broccoli
This crunchy green vegetable is chockfull of nutrients such as folate, beta carotene and Vitamin C.
A study carried out found that psoriasis sufferers had lower levels of glutathione in their blood. Foods such as broccoli, garlic, kale, collards, cabbage and cauliflower have glutathione which is a powerful antioxidant.
8. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are among the top 10 best foods for psoriasis because they are rich in beta carotene, which is good for skin health.
They are also among the best foods that when eaten, are least likely to cause allergic reactions. This is great news, because psoriasis sufferers have higher chances of getting allergic reactions to certain foods/environmental factors.
9. Turnip Greens
Turnip greens are the leaves of turnips! They are among the list of foods good for psoriasis because they contain psoriasis-fighting nutrients such as beta carotene, Vitamin C and folate.
You can add them to a smoothie, cook them in an omelette, eat them in a salad or add them to a veggie stir fry.
10. Nuts such as Walnuts, Almonds, Pecans, etc
Did you know that nuts are good for psoriasis? That’s right! According to the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF), walnuts and other nuts are a good source of omega 3 fatty acids which have been found to reduce inflammation.
Eat nuts such as walnuts, almonds, pecans, peanuts, macadamia nuts, etc after soaking or roasting them.
Soaking/roasting nuts will neutralize most of their enzyme inhibitors, increasing the bioavailability of many nutrients, especially b-vitamins.
So that’s a list of good foods for psoriasis! Incorporate these foods into your diet to see improved symptoms and better skin!
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