The list of foods banned for psoriasis includes table salt. Its consumption is limited because it not only irritates the digestive system, but also "attracts" water, contributing to the appearance of latent edema, weight gain and worsening of pathological processes in the metabolism.
Spices and spicy foods are excluded, which, in addition to negatively affecting the gastrointestinal tract and nervous system, have a detrimental effect on the skin (aromatic substances and essential oils), causing itching and inflammatory reactions in the skin.
Digestible carbohydrates (sugar, honey, sweets, etc. ) also cause inflammation and contribute to weight gain. Products containing preservatives, dyes, stabilizers and flavor enhancers should be excluded: they cause allergic and inflammatory reactions.
You should refrain from consuming fatty foods that aggravate lipid metabolism disorders, "add" extra pounds, "inhibit" the digestive system.
List of prohibited products:
- cakes, in particular fresh, white bread, butter biscuits;
- rich broths;
- fatty meats (especially pork), fatty fats, sausages;
- smoked fish, meat, preserves;
- spices (garlic, horseradish, vinegar, pepper, cloves, nutmeg);
- fatty dairy products;
- citrus fruits (a controversial issue, welcomed by some nutritionists, banned by others);
- seafood (lobster, crabs, shrimps, mussels, oysters);
- highly allergenic fruits and berries (strawberries, pineapples, melons, strawberries, blueberries, mangoes, blueberries);
- vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes, pumpkins, legumes, eggplant, peppers);
- coffee, cocoa, chocolate;
- protein and butter creams, jams, honey, confectionery;
- nuts, especially fried and salted;
- egg;
- 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 cessation of itching and discomfort. In addition, nutritional therapy helps normalize weight and digestive function, improves the appearance of hair and nails, and stimulates the immune system.
Why you need a diet for psoriasis
After consuming food, complex biochemical processes begin to break it down and assimilate it. The pH of the body depends on the composition of the food. When proteins are metabolized in tomatoes, eggplants, meat and fish, the environment becomes acidic. This often predisposes to the next recurrence of psoriasis. Therefore, the elimination of such products helps to avoid the appearance of characteristic pink plaques covered with silvery scales on the skin. Adherence to a diet for a long time leads to a significant improvement in the body. How to do it:
- metabolism normalizes;
- increases the body's immunity to the effects of external and internal negative factors;
- 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 the typical signs of sensitization - the skin becomes inflamed, irritated and a rash develops. Therefore, it is advisable to exclude allergenic foods from the diet. For example, chocolate, strawberries, citrus fruits.
Healthy food
For psoriasis, all fermented dairy products are useful, but only low in fat. Nutritionists recommend that patients use soft cheeses without spices, varenetts, fermented fried milk, yogurt, kefir more often. Children’s diets should definitely include cottage cheese and yogurt, without dyes and flavors. The following products must also be present in the weekly menu:
- boiled egg or omelette;
- lean meats - turkey, rabbit, chicken breast, lamb;
- fatty fish - salmon, Norwegian herring, sardines;
- dried wholemeal bread;
- cereal - buckwheat, millet, wheat, corn;
- white cabbage salads, parsley, flavored with any vegetable oil;
- zucchini, greens and celery roots, carrots.
The food should not be fried or fried. It should be steamed with a little water or fry. Steamed vegetables, meat or fish retain the greatest possible amount of nutrients, macro- and microelements, and fat- and water-soluble vitamins.
Nutritionists consume fruits and dried fruits as desserts. Particularly useful are the daily use of figs, dried peaches, pineapples, grapes, cherries, peaches, dates. Of the citrus fruits, only grapefruit is allowed. The thick skin of the fruit must be cut off. Don’t forget about nuts (walnuts, cashews, pistachios, hazelnuts), pumpkin and sunflower seeds. They perfectly alkalize the body, minimizing the risk of recurrence of psoriasis.
Basic nutrition guidelines
The goals following a psoriasis diet are:
- reducing the number of exacerbations of the disease;
- reduction in the frequency and intensity of skin rashes;
- normalization of metabolism;
- stimulating the body's defenses;
- improving the work of the digestive system.
According to the classification, the psoriasis diet does not have its own "table", which means that the general diet or treatment table 15 must be followed.
In case of several days of exacerbation of the disease, a hypocaloric diet with pureed foods is recommended. Energy daily value is 1800 kilocalories, protein content - 50-70 grams, fat - up to 40-60 grams, carbohydrates - about 250-300 grams. The exclusion of allergic foods is also presented.
Every person’s body is unique, so there are no clear restrictions on consuming a particular food. There are many diets developed for psoriasis, the most famous of which are the Pegano diet and the Fire diet. They are similar in that they try to regulate the acid-base balance of the body in order to stabilize the disease. In other words, it is recommended to use up to 70% of the daily diet of alkaline ingredients and approx. Consume 30%.
General principles of the psoriasis diet:
- fluid consumption; The free fluid intake should not be less than 2-2, 5 liters per day. A lot of fluid intake removes toxins from the body, normalizes kidney function, prevents constipation and increases skin turgor.
- weight; Being overweight indicates a deep metabolic disorder, especially lipids and carbohydrates. It is important to normalize body weight, not overeating and exercise, as obesity disrupts the digestive system and cardiovascular system. Normalizing weight improves the condition of the skin as the content of C-reactive protein in the blood decreases, which increases with obesity.