Psoriasis Diet Plan – Foods To Eat And Avoid

The right foods to manage psoriasis and its symptoms.

Medically reviewed by Jessie Hulsey, RD, LD
Written by Sindhu Koganti, BTech (Biotechnology), Certified Health & Nutrition Life Coach

Edited by Ravi Teja Tadimalla, BSc, Professional Certificate in Food, Nutrition and Health

Fact-checked by Himanshi Mahajan, BSc (Life Sciences), Certified Health & Nutrition Life Coach • Nov 29, 2023

Psoriasis Diet Plan – Foods To Eat And Avoid

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You are what you eat! And what you eat is what eventually partly determines your body’s health. Diet is a part of health, you also need to take sleep and exercise into consideration. A healthy diet rich in antioxidants makes your skin aesthetically beautiful and may treat any ailment, such as psoriasis, which has long been known for its incurability. But with the right food and healthy eating plan, you might be able to manage it and uplift your health.

Keep reading to find out what you should and should not eat if you have this skin disorder.

At A Glance: Psoriasis Diet

Principle: Intake of omega-3 fats and anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich foods, and avoidance of foods that may trigger inflammation
Purpose: To help manage the symptoms of individuals diagnosed with psoriasis by lowering inflammation in the body
Who It Is For: Individuals with psoriasis
Duration: Long-term
Who Should Avoid: Individuals taking Warfarin, and pregnant or breastfeeding individuals
Cons: Nutritional deficiencies, and difficulty sticking to the dietary restrictions in the long run

In This Article

What Is Psoriasis?

Close-up of a woman’s hand with psoriasis

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Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition that speeds up the growth cycle of the skin cells. This overgrowth of cells can lead to scaly, itchy patches, which can cause discomfort. There are different types of psoriasis, which may vary depending on their look and location on the body. Psoriatic scales or silver patches typically occur on elbows, knees, hands, face, or scalp.

Though there is no scientific backing on the exact triggers of this skin condition, researchers have a general idea about the factors based on their decades of observations. It is considered to occur due to genetic and environmental factors (1). People with a family history of psoriasis are most likely to develop this condition. It may also result from an autoimmune attack, in which white blood cells mistakenly attack your skin cells.

As per the report, psoriasis affects approximately 2% of the US population, with varying prevalence worldwide. It is more common in the Faroe Islands but less prevalent in the Japanese, Aboriginal Australians, and Indians from South America. Psoriasis can occur at any age, with two main age peaks: the first around 15-20 years and the second around 55-60 years.

In addition, factors like alcohol consumption, smoking injuries, and medications may also worsen psoriasis and cause flare-ups.

Did You Know?

Psoriasis affects approximately 2% of the total global population (2).

Psoriasis cannot be cured, but you can manage its symptoms. And diet plays a crucial role in psoriasis management. Let’s understand the connection between psoriasis and diet in the next section.

Can Diet Improve Psoriasis Symptoms?

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Yes. Diet may help manage the symptoms of psoriasis to a great extent. However, you have to be mindful of your diet. This chronic inflammatory skin disorder is associated with other conditions like psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, and diabetes (1), (3). And many foods may trigger inflammatory responses in the body and may worsen psoriasis and other inflammatory conditions, while some foods may help suppress them.

Janay Brazier, a blogger, who has psoriasis attests to the impact of a healthy diet on her condition in her blog: “I find it feels a lot better after eating meals with large amounts of vegetables and fish (i).” She also highlights the positive influence of adequate water intake: “It is noticeably better when I’ve had a good run of days when I’ve had a lot of water to drink.”

Unbalanced dietary food habits, higher consumption of fat, diet plans with low nutrition content, and a lower fiber intake may also worsen psoriasis symptoms. Studies found that certain foods like alcohol, simple sugars, and saturated fatty acids may trigger inflammation by stimulating reactive oxygen species and related pathways (3). Therefore, it’s crucial to work with your nutritionist and doctors to determine the right diet and supplements according to the severity of your condition and other existing comorbidities. Since inflammation plays a crucial role in psoriasis, detecting and measuring inflammation in the body is the first step to understanding and managing the condition. But how do we know that? Are there any specific methods to measure inflammation? Scroll down for more information!

How To Measure Inflammation In The Body

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There are specific tests to measure inflammation in the body. With the help of biomarkers (substances in the blood that can spike when your body reacts a certain way to foods), you can easily detect inflammation.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is often used to measure inflammatory molecules like C-reactive protein, soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1, and serum amyloid. In addition, fibrinogen and ESR (Erythrocyte sedimentation rate) blood tests can show if you have inflammation in your body (2), (4).

People with psoriasis may have significantly elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines in their serum(5). Tests for C-reactive proteins (CRP) levels may also help determine the inflammation level.

Though food can not completely improve psoriasis, it may help manage the symptoms. Below we have discussed foods to eat and avoid to manage psoriasis.

Foods To Avoid

Woman rejecting processed foods to manage psoriasis

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If you have psoriasis, then it is essential to avoid certain foods that may trigger inflammation. They include (3):

Red meat (beef, bacon)
Alcohol
Simple or refined sugar
Dairy products
Highly processed foods
Eggs
Barley and malt
Pasta and noodles
Wheat and its derivatives
Eggplants, tomatoes, and potatoes
Paprika and tabasco sauce

Consuming a healthy and balanced diet comprising of anti-inflammatory foods may benefit you. Scroll down to take a look at some of the healthy foods you can include in a psoriasis diet.

Foods To Eat

Woman consuming berries to manage psoriasis

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A diet comprising foods rich in omega-3 fats and other anti-inflammatory properties may help lower inflammation and improve symptoms. You may consume:

Fruits and vegetables like grapes like grapes, berries, leafy greens, and broccoli.
Flaxseed oil, coconut oil, and olive oil
Fatty fish like cod, salmon, and sardines
Whole grains
Lean protein
Legumes like lentils and beans

Planning your meals including all these food suggestions in mind can make the entire process more effective. Here is a sample psoriasis diet plan.

Did You Know?

Stress can aggravate the symptoms of psoriasis (6). Practice meditation and yoga, and get some exercise to lower stress levels.

Psoriasis Diet Plan

Breakfast	Oatmeal made with soy milk and strawberries (1 cup), and green tea or Brussels sprouts (1 cup) and green tea (1 cup) or turkey bacon or turkey/chicken sausage.
Lunch	Veg pulav (1 cup) with a grilled chicken breast and half a cup of steamed vegetables or Brown rice (1 cup) with steamed fish and vegetables and salad (seasoned with olive oil)
Evening Snack	Chicken stew or vegetable soup or hummus and carrot sticks Or trail mix with a combination of nuts and seeds (cashews, pumpkin seeds, macadamia nuts, almonds, pecans, walnuts) Or dark chocolate Or dried cranberries
Dinner	Brown rice (1 cup) with spinach curry and a bowl of salad (lettuce, cucumber, and carrots) Or A dish with cod, salmon, turkey, chicken, chickpeas

In addition, some diet plans may also help reduce inflammation. Here’s a list of diet plans suitable for people with psoriasis:

Gluten-Free Diet: A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that people with psoriasis may have a higher prevalence of other autoimmune disorders like celiac disease (7). Hence, a gluten-free diet may help manage the symptoms related to this condition. However, more research is warranted in this regard.
Low-Calorie Diet: Weight gain may increase the severity of psoriasis and the risk of its prevalence. A randomized clinical study observed that following a low-calorie diet could help manage weight and improve the symptoms of psoriasis (8). However, limited data is available to prove these claims.
Mediterranean Diet: This diet is known for its array of health benefits as it mainly focuses on foods rich in antioxidants. Studies found that people who consume a Mediterranean diet showed a lower psoriasis severity (9).

In addition, anecdotal evidence suggests that the following vegan, keto, and paleo diets may help improve the symptoms associated with psoriasis. Eating healthy doesn’t have to be boring. Scroll down to the next section to learn some tasty recipes for the psoriasis diet.

Psoriasis Diet Recipes

1. Veg Pulav

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What You Need

1 cup of basmati rice (soaked for 20 minutes)
2 cups of water
2 tablespoons of oil
1 teaspoon of cumin
5 cashew nuts
Half an onion (sliced)
1-inch cinnamon stick
½ cup of beans
½ a bell pepper (diced)
1 teaspoon salt
½ a carrot (diced)
2 cardamom pods
1 bay leaf
3 cloves
1 teaspoon of salt

For Masala Paste

1/4 cup of mint leaves
½ cup of coriander leaves
¼ cup of water
1-inch ginger
2 chilies
2 garlic cloves
1-inch cinnamon stick
5 cloves
1 teaspoon of fennel

Process

Blend the spices with water to prepare the masala paste (spice mix), and keep it aside.
Heat oil in a stock pot and add cumin, bay leaf, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, pepper, and cashew.
Sauté on low flame until the spices turn aromatic.
Now add onion and sauté until the color changes slightly.
Add beans, capsicum, peas, and carrot, and sauté for a minute.
Add the masala paste to the veggies, add salt, and mix well.
Add water (enough to cover the veggies), stir well, and let it boil. .
Once the water comes to a rolling boil add the pre-soaked basmati rice. Add more water (enough to cover the rice).
Mix well, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
Serve hot!

2. Spinach Curry

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What You Need

2 cups of fresh spinach
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 large onion (chopped)
1 teaspoon of ground cumin
1 teaspoon of turmeric
1 teaspoon of fresh ginger paste
1 teaspoon garam masala
4 garlic cloves (minced)
¼ cup of vegetable stock
Fresh cilantro
Salt to taste

Process

Heat the oil on medium-high heat in a large, nonstick frying pan.
Add the chopped onion and fry until it starts to brown.
Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute.
Add the ginger and cook for another minute.
Now add the cumin, turmeric, and garam masala.
Stir to combine and slowly add the stock, followed by the cilantro.
Add the spinach, add salt to taste, and cook until it wilts.
Serve hot with rice or chapati.

3. Vegetable Soup

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What You Need

For Soup

3 teaspoons of oil
1-inch ginger (minced)
2 tablespoons of spring onion
1 carrot (diced)
½ cup of beans
3 garlic cloves (minced)
4 cups of water
½ a capsicum (diced)
2 tablespoons of cabbage (finely chopped)
2 tablespoons of peas
1 tablespoon of sweet corn
1 tablespoon of vinegar
¾ cup of water
½ teaspoon of chili flakes
½ teaspoon of pepper
½ teaspoon of mixed herbs

For Slurry

¼ cup of water
1 teaspoon of corn flour

Process

Heat oil in a stock pot and sauté garlic, ginger, and spring onion.
Add carrot, beans, capsicum, and stir-fry for a minute.
Add the chopped cabbage, peas, sweet corn, and sauté slightly.
Now add water and salt and mix well.
Cover and boil for 5 minutes or until the vegetables are cooked well.
In another bowl, mix the corn flour water.
Pour the corn flour slurry into the soup and boil for 3–4 minutes or until the soup
Add vinegar, mixed herbs, chili flakes, and pepper powder.
Mix well, making sure the spices are well combined.
Top with spring onion and enjoy vegetable soup.

Infographic: Top Foods To Eat And Avoid With Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition and can be tough to manage. While medical intervention may help manage the symptoms and prevent flare-ups, modifying your diet can also reduce inflammation. Foods rich in antioxidants can reduce oxidative stress, which is responsible for triggering inflammation. The infographic below contains a compilation of foods you may consume and avoid to manage the symptoms of psoriasis. Take a look!

top foods to eat and avoid with psoriasis (infographic)

Save the high-quality PDF version on your device now.

Download Infographic

Final Thoughts

An autoimmune condition like psoriasis can benefit from including healthy foods in the diet. A psoriasis diet must include anti-inflammatory foods like lean proteins, healthy oils, and whole grains. Avoiding alcohol and highly processed foods may also help improve the symptoms of this inflammatory skin condition. In addition, considering certain diets like low-calorie, vegan, and gluten-free diets may help benefit people with psoriasis. Also, consuming food that contains low sugar is important. However, it is always best to consult a doctor or a nutritionist to plan your diet according to the severity of your condition and other factors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is egg good for psoriasis?

No, eggs contain polyunsaturated fats, which play a massive role in triggering psoriasis. Hence, one must avoid eggs.

Is milk good for psoriasis?

No, dairy is high in saturated fats and may trigger inflammation and flare-ups.

Is chicken good for psoriasis?

Yes. Chicken breasts are a great source of protein and are highly nutritious. However, avoid fried chicken, as it may cause inflammation.

Does coconut oil help psoriasis?

Applying coconut oil may manage skin dryness caused by psoriasis. However, it may not work for everyone, especially those with a nut allergy.

Is saltwater good for psoriasis?

You may soak in salt water. This would help soften the scales, remove the dead skin, and relieve the itch. However, it may also lead to dryness.

Key Takeaways

Diet plays a huge role in managing psoriasis symptoms.
Including antioxidant-rich foods like leafy veggies, fruits, nuts, and seeds may help reduce inflammation and prevent flare-ups.
Avoid processed foods, red meat, refined sugar, eggs, and dairy products, as they may worsen your condition.

Discover the power of food choices in managing psoriasis and avoiding flare-ups. Unveil the foods that you should include or avoid for optimal skin health in this insightful video. Watch it now!

Personal Experience: Source

i. Living with Psoriasis
https://janaybrazier.blogspot.com/2016/08/living-with-psoriasis.html

Sources

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