You are What you Eat

A Psoriasis Diet Can Help Heal You From Within

When you have Guttate Psoriasis and you’re literally uncomfortable in your own skin, one of the first things you do – besides digging through your closet to find long shirts and pants to cover up the shiny pink teardrop-shaped scales – is to try to fix the problem. 

Right?

Right.

                                                                                                                    

And while there is no known cure for Guttate Psoriasis, there are several treatments you can try.

I popped antibiotics like breath mints.  I plowed through the list of topical treatments and light treatments like corticosteroids and targeted UVB rays were going out of style.  When those things didn’t work, I decided to try a more holistic route before braving the more rigorous pharmacological and surgical (yes, surgical) treatments for Guttate Psoriasis.    

You know the expression “you are what you eat?”  Well, I thought that maybe there’s a connection between Psoriasis and diet.  Perhaps playing around with my food choices might help control some of my Guttate Psoriasis symptoms.  So, I decided that before trying more painful treatments, I would create a Psoriasis diet.

But before taking my health into my own hands, I spoke with my doctor and we came up with a plan for my Guttate Psoriasis Diet.  (In other words, remember, Google Medical School is not enough to make major lifestyle changes before consulting a medical professional.  I’m just saying.)

Ok, so when I think of food allergies, the first thing I picture is a dramatic anaphylactic reaction to a solitary peanut or piece of shrimp.  On a first date or an important business meeting in a fancy shmancy restaurant.  But really,  food allergies or food sensitivities are  usually more subtle.  And, sometimes you don’t even realize that you’re allergic or sensitive in the first place. 

And many health care practitioners will tell you that there is a correlation between Psoriasis and diet.

 There’s a theory that certain allergenic foods can trigger inflammatory responses in your body.  And in turn, that can set off Guttate Psoriasis (and other kinds of Psoriasis as well.)  These foods include milk products, gluten, and acidic fruits like oranges and tomatoes.  So, my doctor and I decided to illuminate these possible triggers in my new diet for Psoriasis. 

Along with nixing the milk and gluten (which believe you me, is waaaaaaaaaaaaay harder than it seems, especially since  pizza was banned! Aaarghhhhhhhh!!!) I had to find good foods to add to my diet for Psoriasis.   My doctor and I chose foods that are known to have anti-inflammatory properties – fish (especially wild salmon) and nuts (like almonds), and lots of non-acidic fruits and veggies – for my brand new Guttate Psoriasis Diet.  Doing this would add balance to my Psoriasis diet, because you can’t just cut out the bad and expect the body to heal.

Another reason to add healthy, nourishing foods in your diet for Psoriasis is that nutritious foods help keep the immune system in check, and a happy immune system is a good line of defense against Guttate Psoriasis in the first place. 

 My doctor also told me that for my Psoriasis diet, it might also help to cut out alcohol and tobacco since those are believed to contribute to Guttate Psoriasis in the first place.

The bad news:  I wake up at 3:00 am yearning for a stuffed crust pizza with extra cheese and extra tomatoes.  And beer.

The good news:  It’s kind of sort of working.  I still get outbreaks, but they seem less severe than before.  And that makes it worth it.