Psoriasis: Foods to Eat and Avoid

I wrote a brief introduction to Psoriasis yesterday and mentioned high level dietary considerations for managing the disease. This post is a follow up on that one, with specific foods to eat and avoid. It is worthwhile mentioning again, Psoriasis isn’t contagious, nor is it a result of poor personal hygiene. Psoriasis is an inflammatory disease caused by a number of factors or their combinations, including the genetic, environmental and immunological. [1]

Below are the specific foods Psoriasis patients may want to include and exclude from their diets. For the reasons behind their being mentioned here, please refer to Psoriasis: Dietary Considerations.

• Weight Loss
  • Avoid fried foods
  • Include snacks such as cucumber, tomatoes and carrots
  • Watch your saturated fat intake
  • Do not starve yourself
  • Eat plenty of fibre, both soluble and insoluble
  • Avoid processed foods
• Heart Healthy Foods [2]
  • Eat plenty of soluble fibre
  • Avoid more than 1.5 grams of sodium per day
  • Limit alcohol
  • Include Omega-3
  • Include lean meats
  • Avoid poultry with skin
• Anti-Inflammatory Foods to Include [2]
  • Cold water fish
  • Flaxseed, olive oil, pumpkin seeds, walnuts
  • Colourful fruits and vegetables
• Inflammatory Foods to Avoid [2]
  • Red meats with a high fat content, such as pork
  • Milk and related dairy products
  • Processed products
  • Foods containing refined sugars
  • Vegetables belonging to the Nightshade family, such as tomatoes, peppers and  potatoes
• Gluten-free Foods [2]

References:

1. Psoriasis: Dietary Considerations
   http://calwellness.in/2018/06/12/psoriasis-dietary-considerations/
2. Diet and Psoriasis
   https://www.psoriasis.org/about-psoriasis/treatments/alternative/diet-supplements