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Why an anti-inflammatory diet is important for psoriasis
People with psoriasis suffer from persistent inflammation in the body. This is exactly where the anti-inflammatory diet comes in: foods that promote inflammation in the body should rarely be on the menu. These include, for example, high-fat pork, sausage and lard. They contain larger amounts of arachidonic acid. The body uses this omega-6 fatty acid to produce messenger substances that promote inflammation in the body.
It’s not just the skin that benefits from a balanced and anti-inflammatory diet with psoriasis. “Many do not know that psoriasis not only affects the skin, but also the joints and vessels,” says Professor Alexander Kreuter, chief physician of dermatology at the Helios St. Elisabeth Clinic in Oberhausen. “In addition, those affected have a significantly increased risk of also developing the so-called metabolic syndrome. This is the combination of obesity, high blood pressure, insulin resistance and above all a lipid metabolism disorder. By choosing the right foods, psoriasis can do a lot to significantly reduce their risk.”
High blood pressure and elevated blood lipids are widespread
As part of the IPART study, an international team of researchers was able to show how widespread the risk factors for the metabolic syndrome are among people with psoriasis: of over 2,200 patients examined, almost half had high blood pressure (45 percent) or high blood lipid levels (49 percent). The good news: With a healthy and balanced diet, patients can counteract these risk factors and maintain their quality of life in the long term.
Such a diet includes, for example, plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits, especially varieties rich in polyphenols. “These substances are able to intercept free radicals in the blood and thus protect the blood vessels,” says Alexander Kreuter. “They are found in abundance in all berries, as well as in apricots and grapes.” Fatty fish such as mackerel, herring or salmon are also recommended. They are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and can reduce inflammation in the body. Experts also advise using vegetable fats such as walnut, linseed and rapeseed oil more often. “The polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids it contains can have a positive effect on the skin’s appearance and also offer effective vascular protection,” says Professor Kreuter.
Obesity influences the therapy
In addition to a healthy diet, people with psoriasis should also ensure a healthy body weight, because obesity can impair the effectiveness of some medications: “The biological drugs used today for psoriasis have to be dosed higher in order to achieve the necessary effective levels,” says Professor Kreuter. “Therefore, it makes more than sense to reduce your weight with a smart diet and more physical activity. This significantly improves the complexion and protects against long-term damage caused by psoriasis.”
Those:
Eder L, Harvey P, Chandran V, et al. Gaps in Diagnosis and Treatment of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients with Psoriatic Disease: An International Multicenter Study. J Rheumatol. 2018;45(3):378-384. doi:10.3899/jrheum.170379