Diet and Psoriasis 🆙

Introduction

What is psoriasis

La Psoriasis it's an illness autoimmune, therefore absolutely not contagious and basically chronic, characterized by abnormal patches on skin.

In crafts more common, these spots are red color, detected, pruriginose e desquamanti. Such injury skin can vary in severity and be small e localized, or coat completely il body.

La diagnosis is based on the analysis of signs and symptoms, that get worse in cold season and with the use of some medications such as, for example, i beta blockers and of NSAIDs. They also play a negative role infections and psychological stress.

Types of psoriasis

Psoriasis can be subdivided in five types:

Psoriasis plaques o psoriasi vulgar (90% of cases);
Psoriasis guttata (numerous spots in the form of drops);
Psoriasis reverse (affects skin folds);
Psoriasis adventurer (presence of pus in the lesions);
Psoriasis erythrodermic (when the rash becomes widespread).

It is hypothesized that psoriasis may have aetiology genetics that you active evaluation with environmental factors. Other theories on the origin of psoriasis they focus on dermatological infections pre-existing, comorbilità of various kinds and factors autoimmune involved insupply.

Remedies for psoriasis

Currently there is no cure for psoriasis, however, i treatments available can to help a controllare i symptoms. These can include: cream steroids e ointments to the vitamin D3 or similar (sufficient in 75% of cases) cortisone phototherapy and / or suppressors of immune system.

Spread of psoriasis

The illness hits il 2-4% area of population, with equal frequency between men e women, and is associated with a increase of risk di psoriatic arthritis, lymphomas, diseases cardiovascular, Crohn's disease e trough. Psoriatic arthritis strikes up to 30% of people with psoriasis.

Diet

Correlation between diet and psoriasis

In addition to the above, many other factors can to influence psoriatic discomfort. Among these, some are also observed dietary variables e related pathologies, Which:

Obesity;
Excessive consumption di alcohol;
Shortage in fatty acids essential e semi-essential omega 3 (eicosapentaenoic acid or EPA-registered household disinfectants, docosaesaenoico o DHA, alpha-linolenic acid o ALA) and antioxidants.
In presence of celiac disease, best before date di gluten; not surprisingly, in patients with anti-gliadin antibodies severity of psoriatic disease tends to decrease after only 3 months di diet private di gluten.

Note: gluten is an exclusive protein of some cereals such as: wheat, spelled, spelled, rye, barley and sorghum.

There is also one correlation between the Psoriasis and diseases intestinal inflammatory; these, as well as the celiac disease, have autoimmune etiology.

Obesity

Among the basic dietary principles for the control of psoriasis, the first is undoubtedly the weight control in case of Excessive BMI.

A 2014 study published in the "Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology" revealed one correlation between the'obesity el 'increase of risk di psoriatic disease. The researchers found that a increase body mass index (BMI) is associated with a increase of risk to develop the Psoriasis el 'psoriatic arthritis, as well as an increase in the severity to the symptoms.

Obesity can provide the "necessary push" to trigger psoriasis in already predisposed people; this is because the fat cells separate cytokines, or protein that they can trigger l'inflammation. Also, obesity can decrease l'effect therapeutic of some drugs.

Another study conducted in the same year and published in the "British Journal of Dermatology" identified an association between the weight loss and reduction area of severity area of Psoriasis. This study analyzed the outcome of a "dietary intervention" associated with exercise, over the course of 20 weeks. A clear one emerged correlation between the perdita di weight and improvement area of Psoriasis. Also, the patients they have lost more weight they showed a further improvement of the pathology; it is however necessary to specify that also a modest weight loss can have a great impact on the improvement of the disease.

- effects a long term they are yet to be discovered; however, theimportance of slimming in obese individuals - as part of the overall treatment for psoriasis and its comorbidities - it is decidedly incontrovertible.

How to lose weight

First of all, the slimming significant and urgent in case of psoriasis is essential only with a BMI ≥ 30 (click here to calculate your BMI). If between 25 e 29,9, although desirable, can be obtained in times more long.

reduce l'excess weight it's possible to use two different systems.

Reduce energy for weight loss

Reduce l'energy maintaining constant l'caloric intake:

Reduce l'energy in percentage in day; a curtailment of 30% is aimed at a drop weight of about 3 kg al month;
Elimination aunt Calories in relation to weight da lose in month. Taking that into consideration each kg di fat include circa 7.000 kcal. Ultimately, to lose 3 kg al month it's enough eliminate about 750 kcal per day.

It is highly recommended to apply to a dietitian but, in general, a subject obese or overweight suffering from Psoriasis could follow le guidelines referred to below:

Prefer the consumption of fresh vegetables, lightly seasoned, e limit la fruit to snacks secondary;
Prefer Whole grains e vegetable o other seeds ad high content di fibers rather than refined or based on white flours;
To avoid i foods ad high content di grassi, mostly saturated e hydrogenated, rich in chains in conformation tranny (packaged foods, sweet and savory snacks, fast food, etc.);
Prefer lean meats, fish (poor fish e blue fish), low in saturated fat e wealthy of acids grassi unsaturated and / or essential;
Pay attention to oil seeds, Because high calorie, and avoid those high in acid arachidonic;
To avoid sugar, foods sweetened, elaborate recipes, Fried and all the junk food in general.

In practice, all the rules and of advice for a diet slimming.

Increase the expenditure for weight loss

To increase il energy expenditure maintaining constant the level of motor activity:

practicing aerobic activity, the low o half intensity to volumes higher of training (HVT). Allows you to increase il best before date caloric direct, partly also from fatty acids, And to empty le stocks di glycogen improving il glycid metabolism;
practicing metabolic activity ad high intensity (HIT) e bass o medium volume. Allows you to improve il glycid metabolism more of previous, but it has a best before date energetic direct lower because of modest volumes training;
By practicing musculation, then ad very high intensity (HIIT) and with low density e volumes. It has a direct calorie consumption even lower but, allowing an increase in muscle trophism, in the long term it guarantees to raise the basal metabolism. With this solution, the diet has a more delicate role of the above.

Note: the experience of sector technicians shows that the best system remains the combination of all and three: i methods.

Heart Health

Psoriasis is a disease inflammatory and exploits, at least in part, the etiological mechanism dell 'atherosclerosis. Consequently, reducing l'systemic inflammation (including through weight loss), improving la cardiovascular health, you can get one too reduction area of Psoriasis.

Here are some tips:

Eat fish almeno twice a week, better if poor (wild) e blue (such as alletterato, mackerel, herring, bonito, etc.); this contains acids grassi essential omega 3 (EPA-registered household disinfectants e DHA), which can help reduce l'inflammation and the risk / severity of disease;
Use dairy products a bass content di grassi e cholesterol;
To limit to a minimum containing foods hydrogenated vegetable oils (full of chains tranny);
Maintain the glycemia a optimal levels, consuming food wealthy di carbohydrates in portions moderate, better if with peel o integrals; in case of impaired glucose sensitivity e insulin resistance (o diabetes), try to control the total glycemic load and possibly the glycemic and insulin index of meals;
To hire less di 1.500 mg di sodium / the (read food labels);
To limit l'alcohol, especially in the case of psoriasis severe.
Favor the contribution of antioxidant molecules e inflammatory (look down).

Anti-inflammatory diet

We have repeated several times that psoriasis is an inflammatory disease. Many people affected by this disorder claim to see noticeable improvements increasing anti-inflammatory molecules with the diet.

The answer can to vary based on individual circumstance, compliance and genetics. However, the greatest part of the people respond positively dietary and lifestyle changes aimed at controlling chronic inflammation.

In case of psoriasis, the foods from avoid o limit significantly (because they have been shown to cause or increase inflammation) are

Red meats e oily, especially from disreputable farms; meat fat may contain moderate levels of arachidonic acid - an omega 6 fatty acid that acts as a precursor to pro-inflammatory eicosanoids;
Alimony refined, transformed, processed etc;
Junk food generally;
Simple sugars added.

Some they also suggest deleting: XNUMX cups milk, dairy product and fruit and vegetables that belong to the family Solanaceae (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, etc.); on the other hand, their inflammatory potential it is not proven and their elimination from the diet has not found any kind of scientific value.

On the contrary, food to include (because they have been shown to reduce inflammation) are:

Fishes rich of EPA-registered household disinfectants e DHA (semi-essential omega 3);
Seeds o oily fruits rich of LA (essential omega 6) ALA (essential omega 3) e Vitamin E such as: flaxseed, olive oil and olives, walnut and nut oil etc;
vegetable e fruit fresh brightly colored (rich in carotenoids, vitamin E, vitamin C and phenolic substances - all antioxidants); obviously, for those who believe it, this would enter partially in conflict with the recommendation to exclude Solanaceae, but there are many other vegetables with overlapping nutritional characteristics: carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, spinach, cabbage, broccoli, blueberries, mangoes, strawberries etc.

Note: remember to controllare the consumption of sweet fruit.

Gluten

The presence of gluten in the diet of celiac can get worse a component psoriatic state.

There are many studies that have evaluated i benefits of a free diet di gluten in case of Psoriasis, evaluation with o without celiac disease, but DON'T they all gave outcomes stackable. It is hypothesized that the "reflex" weight loss obtained by the exclusion of several gluten-containing and widely consumed / abused foods may have played a fundamental role.

Il bond between psoriasis and gluten (sometimes hidden in processed foods) it is not yet clear, but rather recent research estimates that up to 25% of people suffering from psoriasis they might be sensitive al gluten.

Celiac disease is caused by a real food intolerance to gluten, which stresses the immune system against the intestinal epithelium. A gluten-free diet is the only known treatment for this intolerance.

A fair number of studies suggest psoriasis and celiac disease share some routes genetic ed inflammatory; in addition, highlights that the presence of psoriasis doubles the chances of suffering from celiac disease. However, despite anecdotal statements from some patients, there is no solid evidence that a gluten-free diet can improve psoriasis in people without intolerance.

In the doubt of celiac disease, which sometimes manifests itself with atypical symptoms, diagnostic investigations are needed such as: blood tests, intestinal biopsy etc. A dietician can help produce a gluten-free diet which, generally speaking, gives the first results about 90 days after starting.

Useful Supplements

Studies DON'T have demonstrated a direct link between taking vitamins and others supplements food and the improvement area of Psoriasis. Still, many people with the condition report a marked improvement in skin lesions

Omega-3

Among the most popular products in case of psoriasis, those based on omega 3 fatty acids, as they appear to have a positive impact on systemic inflammation and immunity functioning. There are three types of these:

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA);
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA);
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Alpha-linolenic acid is found in some oilseeds and related vegetable oils.

EPA and DHA are instead present in oily and oily fish from cold seas and in algae. Fish oil is very rich in it and is also available in capsule form.

Some individuals with psoriasis suffer from a deficiency of essential acids; there is also the doubt that the excess of some omega 6 (especially arachidonic acid), both proportional and absolute, can increase the inflammatory state; for more information read the article: The right ratio between omega 6 and omega 3.

If so, research done on omega 3 fatty acid supplements has shown that they can help reduce the severity of psoriasis. However, further investigations are required to be performed also on subjects with a normal nutritional intake. The use of high quality standard products is also recommended, as contamination with heavy metals and other unwanted substances is quite common.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is another molecule subject to experimentation in the treatment of psoriasis, as it is believed to have a modulating effect on epidermal cell proliferation (excessive in psoriasis). It is a highly concentrated active ingredient in some topical drugs.

Overall research on the effect of vitamin D in psoriasis is quite narrow and limited. A May 2011 report published in the "Science Translational Medicine Journal" reported that vitamin D helps counter the inflammation response of psoriasis. On the other hand, too much vitamin D can be dangerous.

Some argue that an excess could cause serious side effects such as the disproportionate increase in calcium in the blood (associated with kidney stones and joint crystal formation). The main food sources of vitamin D are: cod liver oil, salmon, mackerel, tuna, fortified skim milk, other diet foods and eggs (yolk).

It should also be specified that most of the vitamin D is of endogenous (cutaneous) synthesis; this occurs in exposure to sunlight, especially in hot seasons. However, it is not necessary that the exposure is prolonged and, in optimal conditions, 10 'is sufficient. To check the concentrations in the body it is essential to carry out blood tests.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin

Glucosamine and chondroitin are other dietary supplements that can be taken individually or in pairs. These are specific molecules of cartilage; glucosamine has a mildly anti-inflammatory and cartilage repair stimulating effect. Chondroitin, on the other hand, is able to promote the elasticity of the cartilage and inhibit its breakage.

Research shows that these two supplements can slow the pathological progression and reduce the pain of osteoarthritis but, in the case of psoriatic arthritis, they are totally in vain.

MSM, Selenium and Vit. B12

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is an organic sulfur-containing compound found in fruits and vegetables. However, it is totally destroyed when food is physically and chemically processed; also for this reason, there are specific MSM supplements.

Sulfur is necessary for the body to keep the connective structures healthy and intact. On the other hand, there is insufficient scientific evidence to show that it can exert an analgesic or anti-inflammatory effect.

Some choose to supplement the selenium and vitamin B12 share, but research shows they are totally useless.

Conclusion

In conclusion, scientific experimentation on the usefulness of certain supplements in the treatment of psoriasis is still rather inconclusive. Before starting any supplementation program it is necessary to consult your doctor, in order to avoid any chemical interaction with other drugs or complications of various kinds.