The link between diet and psoriasis is yet to be scientifically confirmed, but it is widely known that health and diet are very relative, hence the effect of diet on psoriasis can’t be overlooked. Jerry Bagel, MD, a dermatologist with Windsor Dermatology in East Windsor and Hightstown, New Jersey says “if you find that something you eat or drink aggravates your psoriasis symptoms, it can’t hurt to cut it from your diet”.
It may not have a scientific back up yet but you should be aware that there are certain diets that will aggravate this condition if not eliminated. Below are some of them
1. Red meat
Red meat is known to contain arachidonic acid, a polyunsaturated fat that can worsen psoriasis symptoms, due to its ability to convert to inflammatory compounds. Eating diets that can spike the inflammatory process in your body may not be helping you, as your skin will likely show worse symptoms. Sausages and bacons can also fall in this category.
2. Alcohol
Alcohol is not, in any way, promoting your sound health, which is why you should quit it already. It opens the blood vessels in the skin, and this will cause your white blood cells and T cells to easily move up to the outer layers of your skin. T cells are said to be responsible for psoriasis, so why invite more to your skin? It doesn’t matter if you reduce your alcohol intake and choose to drink moderately, it will still worsen the symptoms.
3. Dairy products
Many people love dairy products, and it may be sad that you have to let go now. Dairy products contain arachidonic acid, like the red meat as explained above. Cow’s milk, which is a common dairy product, is likely to pose worse symptoms, as it also contain casein, a protein which also have inflammatory properties.
Above are 3 common foods that can worsen the symptoms of psoriasis. As stated earlier, these foods are not scientifically proven to be linked with psoriasis, but so far, people with psoriasis have often complained of certain diets, of which these three keep recurring.