How What You Eat Can Trigger a Psoriasis Flare-up

Psoriasis is an inflammatory condition, which means that when there’s more inflammation in your body, your symptoms worsen. Researchers have found that you can help reduce inflammation through careful dietary choices.

The experts at Orange Coast Dermatology don’t suggest that you can alleviate all of your psoriasis symptoms with diet, but we have seen patients successfully reduce the number of flare-ups they experience by avoiding some foods and consuming others. In this post, we help you understand the role of food in reducing inflammation.

Why what you eat matters

Since your diet can increase or decrease inflammation in your body, it can help or hurt your psoriasis. Paying attention to what you eat and how it affects you can help you understand your trigger foods. Avoiding triggers means avoiding flare-ups.

According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, a good nutrition plan can both lessen psoriasis symptoms and decrease the effects of psoriasis on your overall health.

You may be wondering what a nutrition plan specifically for psoriasis looks like. It involves identifying and avoiding your trigger foods while also choosing foods known to fight inflammation and improve your overall health.

Common trigger foods in psoriasis

The foods and beverages that are most commonly associated with increased inflammation and increased flare-ups in psoriasis include:

Dairy products
Gluten
Alcohol
Refined carbohydrates, such as in white bread, crackers, etc.
Saturated fats
Trans fats
Added sugar

Nightshades, such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and potatoes, are also trigger foods for some people. Research is still ongoing regarding these foods, but you can determine if they are triggers for you by keeping a food diary and noting when your symptoms are worse.

Knowing that these foods are likely to trigger a flare-up doesn’t mean that you have to avoid them forever, but understanding that you’re likely to have increased symptoms can help you plan when you want to consume them.

Foods to lower inflammation

Some foods actually help reduce inflammation in your body, which means they may help you have fewer psoriasis flares. In general, foods you’ve always considered healthy make the list. Look for:

Fruits and vegetables
Lean proteins such as poultry or fish
Legumes
Whole grains
Nuts and seeds

The highly trained and knowledgeable team at Orange Coast Dermatology is always happy to help you find a nutrition plan that works well and helps you reach your health goals. Schedule an appointment at the location nearest you today to learn more about your personal triggers.