Table salt is on the list of forbidden foods for psoriasis. Its consumption is limited, because it not only irritates the digestive tract, but also "attracts" water, contributing to the appearance of latent edema, weight gain and worsening of pathological processes in metabolism.
Excluded are spices and spicy foods that, in addition to adversely affecting the gastrointestinal tract and nervous system, adversely affect the skin (aromatic substances and essential oils), cause itching and inflammatory reactions on the skin.
Digestible carbohydrates (sugar, honey, sweets, etc. ) also cause inflammation and also contribute to weight gain. It is necessary to exclude products that contain preservatives, dyes, stabilizers and flavor enhancers: they cause allergic and inflammatory reactions.
You should refrain from eating fatty foods, which worsen disorders in lipid metabolism, "add" extra pounds, "inhibit" the work of the digestive tract.
List of prohibited products:
- pastries, especially fresh, white bread, biscuits with butter;
- rich meat soups;
- fatty meats (especially pork), lard, sausages;
- smoked fish, meat, canned food;
- spices (garlic, horseradish, vinegar, pepper, cloves, nutmeg);
- fatty dairy products;
- citrus fruits (a controversial issue, some nutritionists welcome them, others ban them);
- seafood (lobster, crabs, shrimp, mussels, oysters);
- highly allergenic fruits and berries (strawberry, pineapple, melon, strawberry, blueberry, mango, cranberry);
- vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes, pumpkins, legumes, eggplants, peppers);
- coffee, cocoa, chocolate;
- Protein and butter creams, jams, honey, sweets;
- nuts, especially fried and salted;
- eggs;
- easily digestible cereals (semolina, barley);
- viscera.
The need to adhere to a diet
A patient on dietary psoriasis will soon notice a significant improvement in the condition of the skin, a reduction 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 initiated to break it down and assimilate it. The pH in the body depends on the composition of the 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, removing such products will help avoid the appearance of characteristic pink plaques on the skin covered with silvery scales. Respecting the diet for a long time leads to significant improvement in the body. How it happens:
- metabolism is normalized;
- increases the body's immunity to the effects of external and internal negative factors;
- sleep quality improves, vitality increases, apathy and fatigue disappear.
There is a certain allergic component in the pathogenesis (mechanism) of psoriasis development. Even the symptoms are similar to the typical signs of sensitization - the skin becomes inflamed, irritated and rashes appear. It is therefore advisable to exclude foods that cause allergies from the diet. For example, chocolate, strawberries, citrus fruits.
Healthy food
Any fermented dairy products are useful for psoriasis, but only with a low fat content. Nutritionists recommend that patients more often use soft cheeses without spices, boiled, fermented baked milk, yogurt, kefir. Children's diet should definitely contain cottage cheese and yogurt for drinking without colors and flavors. Also, the following products should be present on the weekly menu:
- boiled eggs or omelet;
- lean meat - 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, cabbage and celery root, carrots.
Food should not be fried or fried. They should be stewed in a little water or baked. Vegetables, meat or steamed 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, pineapples, grapes, cherries, peaches, dates. Of the citrus fruits, only grapefruit is allowed. The thick rind of the fruit must be cut off. Don’t forget nuts (walnuts, cashews, pistachios, hazelnuts), pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds. They perfectly alkalize the body, reducing the risk of recurrence of psoriasis.
Basic dietary guidelines
The goals that follow a psoriasis diet are:
- reducing the number of disease exacerbations;
- reducing the frequency and intensity of skin rashes;
- normalization of metabolism;
- stimulation of the body's defenses;
- improving the functioning of the digestive tract.
According to the classification, the psoriasis diet does not have "its own table", which means that the general table of diet or treatment number 15 should be adhered to.
In case of worsening of the disease for a few days, a hypocaloric diet with pureed food is recommended. Its daily energy value is 1800 kilocalories, protein content - 50-70 grams, fat - no more than 40-60 grams, carbohydrates - about 250-300 grams. Food allergen exclusion has also been shown.
Each person’s body 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 tend 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 with alkaline products and about 30% of acidic products.
General principles of diet for psoriasis:
- drinking liquids; Free fluid intake should not be less than 2-2, 5 liters per day. Intake of plenty of fluids removes toxins from the body, normalizes kidney function, prevents the development of constipation and increases skin turgor.
- weight; Being overweight indicates a deep metabolic disorder, especially lipids and carbohydrates. It is important to normalize weight, not overeat and exercise, because obesity disrupts the digestive tract and cardiovascular system. Normalization of weight improves the condition of the skin, because the content of C-reactive protein in the blood decreases, which increases with obesity.