smoochisback
12-08-2003, 05:31 AM
Hello!
I am a newbie to this board but not a newbie to psoriasis. I was wondering if anyone here has tried to make changes to their diet to help combat psoriasis? I am going to school for nursing and thought I would take advantage of the database through my school to get some information. I am not currently seeing a doc for my psoriasis but considering the fact my mother suffers from it as well, I know all to well what it is. I have been researching some alternative remides( cant spell) and found an article of intrest. I thought I would share some things I found interesting and see if anyone here has heard of them or tried them and had success. Thank you. Here are selected parts to the article I read. ( I skiped the part explaining what psoriasis is...duh...we know)
Psoriasis occurs when a genetic defect in skin cells causes these cells
to divide more rapidly. This doesn't mean you can't do something to slow
down skin cell division. Often you can, because in addition to a genetic
predisposition, your diet and lifestyle affect psoriasis. Sluggish liver
function and toxins in the bowel are contributing factors
You can reduce bowel toxins by eating a diet high in fiber. Some toxins
become attached to these plant fibers and can be carried out of your body
by them. So be sure to eat fresh fruits and vegetables at least two or
three times every day.
A tincture or capsules of Sarsaparilla root (Smilex sarsaparilla) may
help control or reduce your psoriasis. People used to drink Sarsaparilla
tea every spring as a blood-purifying tonic because it contains substances
that bind to psoriasis-causing toxins, eliminating them. A study in the
New England Journal of Medicine (No. 227, 1942) found Sarsaparilla to be
effective in 80 percent of patients with chronic psoriasis. Eighteen percent
of them were completely cleared up. You may need to take 15-30 drops of
tincture, or 250 mg of the dried root in capsules, three times a day.
Your liver filters and detoxifies your blood, but if you
have too many toxins in your bowels, or if your liver is overworked and
unable to detoxify sufficiently, you'll end up with more toxins in your
bloodstream than you can handle. Reduce these toxins and you'll reduce
your symptoms.
Stop eating junk foods for a few months at least, and drink water with
lemon juice throughout the day for a gentle liver cleansing.
Don't burden your liver any more than necessary. Alcohol increases the
absorption of toxins from your bowels and significantly worsens psoriasis.
If you're serious about improving your skin, you need to eliminate alcohol
completely while you're on this healthy skin program.
There appears to be a direct connection between the fats in meats (arachadonic
acid) and psoriasis. Toxic by-products of arachadonic acid are hundreds
of times higher in skin with psoriasis than in normal skin tissues, creating
inflammation. These by-products are produced when a particular enzyme is
inhibited. Aspirin and NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents) inhibit
this enzyme, so if you have psoriasis, do not take either of these medications.
Greatly reduce dairy and animal products, both high in arachadonic acid
Essential fatty acids (EFAs), such as the omega-3 fats found in fish,
are beneficial. They occupy the same receptor sites as arachadonic acid.
This means that if you eat more fish than meat, your skin will contain
more naturally occurring anti-inflammatory agents. Studies show that when
people with psoriasis added high amounts of fish oils to their diet (10-12
grams), there was significant improvement in their skin. But this translates
into 150 mg of salmon every day, or eight to 10 fish oil capsules.
Instead, eat wild, not farmed, fish frequently. Farmed fish contain fewer
EFAs. Since flax is also high in EFAs, add two tablespoons of flax oil
to your food each day, or take a good quality supplement (such as Women's
Preferred Mixed Fatty Acids) containing both kinds of EFAs. Begin by taking
two or three times the amount suggested on the bottle for several months.
A vegetarian diet low in dairy often reduces psoriasis, most likely because
it eliminates arachadonic acid and contains EFAs from nuts and seeds. When
this diet is also high in carrots and fruits, it boosts your levels of
vitamin A, which helps your skin.
Nutrient deficiencies
Low levels of vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A and D, zinc, and
selenium have been associated with psoriasis, but a number of studies say
that taking them orally doesn't work as well as using them topically. Since
these studies are not conclusive, I think it's a good idea to take a multivitamin/mineral
formula, eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and spend some time
outdoors daily to get vitamin D from sunlight. If you can find lotions
with antioxidants, use them on the affected areas. They can't hurt, and
they may help your skin clear up.
Contributors to Psoriasis
* Poor digestion and elimination
* Impaired liver function
* Too many animal fats
* Nutrient deficiencies
My psoriasis is on the scalp, only one elbow, my face...eyebrows, nose, ears .. I am 31 and have had it for about 10 years. I never thought about how the things I eat could contribute to the problem. Please tell me what you think.
Smoochisback ( Rachael)
:D
I am a newbie to this board but not a newbie to psoriasis. I was wondering if anyone here has tried to make changes to their diet to help combat psoriasis? I am going to school for nursing and thought I would take advantage of the database through my school to get some information. I am not currently seeing a doc for my psoriasis but considering the fact my mother suffers from it as well, I know all to well what it is. I have been researching some alternative remides( cant spell) and found an article of intrest. I thought I would share some things I found interesting and see if anyone here has heard of them or tried them and had success. Thank you. Here are selected parts to the article I read. ( I skiped the part explaining what psoriasis is...duh...we know)
Psoriasis occurs when a genetic defect in skin cells causes these cells
to divide more rapidly. This doesn't mean you can't do something to slow
down skin cell division. Often you can, because in addition to a genetic
predisposition, your diet and lifestyle affect psoriasis. Sluggish liver
function and toxins in the bowel are contributing factors
You can reduce bowel toxins by eating a diet high in fiber. Some toxins
become attached to these plant fibers and can be carried out of your body
by them. So be sure to eat fresh fruits and vegetables at least two or
three times every day.
A tincture or capsules of Sarsaparilla root (Smilex sarsaparilla) may
help control or reduce your psoriasis. People used to drink Sarsaparilla
tea every spring as a blood-purifying tonic because it contains substances
that bind to psoriasis-causing toxins, eliminating them. A study in the
New England Journal of Medicine (No. 227, 1942) found Sarsaparilla to be
effective in 80 percent of patients with chronic psoriasis. Eighteen percent
of them were completely cleared up. You may need to take 15-30 drops of
tincture, or 250 mg of the dried root in capsules, three times a day.
Your liver filters and detoxifies your blood, but if you
have too many toxins in your bowels, or if your liver is overworked and
unable to detoxify sufficiently, you'll end up with more toxins in your
bloodstream than you can handle. Reduce these toxins and you'll reduce
your symptoms.
Stop eating junk foods for a few months at least, and drink water with
lemon juice throughout the day for a gentle liver cleansing.
Don't burden your liver any more than necessary. Alcohol increases the
absorption of toxins from your bowels and significantly worsens psoriasis.
If you're serious about improving your skin, you need to eliminate alcohol
completely while you're on this healthy skin program.
There appears to be a direct connection between the fats in meats (arachadonic
acid) and psoriasis. Toxic by-products of arachadonic acid are hundreds
of times higher in skin with psoriasis than in normal skin tissues, creating
inflammation. These by-products are produced when a particular enzyme is
inhibited. Aspirin and NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents) inhibit
this enzyme, so if you have psoriasis, do not take either of these medications.
Greatly reduce dairy and animal products, both high in arachadonic acid
Essential fatty acids (EFAs), such as the omega-3 fats found in fish,
are beneficial. They occupy the same receptor sites as arachadonic acid.
This means that if you eat more fish than meat, your skin will contain
more naturally occurring anti-inflammatory agents. Studies show that when
people with psoriasis added high amounts of fish oils to their diet (10-12
grams), there was significant improvement in their skin. But this translates
into 150 mg of salmon every day, or eight to 10 fish oil capsules.
Instead, eat wild, not farmed, fish frequently. Farmed fish contain fewer
EFAs. Since flax is also high in EFAs, add two tablespoons of flax oil
to your food each day, or take a good quality supplement (such as Women's
Preferred Mixed Fatty Acids) containing both kinds of EFAs. Begin by taking
two or three times the amount suggested on the bottle for several months.
A vegetarian diet low in dairy often reduces psoriasis, most likely because
it eliminates arachadonic acid and contains EFAs from nuts and seeds. When
this diet is also high in carrots and fruits, it boosts your levels of
vitamin A, which helps your skin.
Nutrient deficiencies
Low levels of vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A and D, zinc, and
selenium have been associated with psoriasis, but a number of studies say
that taking them orally doesn't work as well as using them topically. Since
these studies are not conclusive, I think it's a good idea to take a multivitamin/mineral
formula, eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and spend some time
outdoors daily to get vitamin D from sunlight. If you can find lotions
with antioxidants, use them on the affected areas. They can't hurt, and
they may help your skin clear up.
Contributors to Psoriasis
* Poor digestion and elimination
* Impaired liver function
* Too many animal fats
* Nutrient deficiencies
My psoriasis is on the scalp, only one elbow, my face...eyebrows, nose, ears .. I am 31 and have had it for about 10 years. I never thought about how the things I eat could contribute to the problem. Please tell me what you think.
Smoochisback ( Rachael)
:D