How Diet Helps

How important is your diet?

Figs and fish oil might help you feel better. Or not.

Everyone knows that a healthy, balanced diet can do wonders for your overall general health. But can it help with the management of psoriasis? Take a look at some of the more popular dietary practices and claims below. Although there's little scientific evidence that diet alone can improve psoriasis, new ideas in nutrition, supplements, and regimens are continuing to develop.

Be sure to talk to your doctor before changing your diet.

Does diet do it?

Nutritional therapy	What is it?	How does it work?	Results	Cautions
Eat a well-balanced diet	Limit red meat; eat plenty of fresh fruits/vegetables daily; reduce dairy products; don't smoke or drink; avoid foods high in fat or sugar	May help build stress resistance, increase physical endurance, increase resistance to disease, and promote increased emotional stability	Proper nutrition may diminish the severity of the disease	Do not overeat—even healthy foods
Maintain a food diary	Write down everything you eat	May help track flare-ups back to diet	By learning which foods are a problem for you, you could learn which to avoid or cut down on	Don't eliminate any food groups without a doctor's approval
Eat psoralen-containing foods prior to sun exposure	Celery, carrots, citrus, figs, fennel, and parsnips	May make skin more sun-sensitive to the positive effects of UV light	Anecdotal reports of improvement	Due to risk of sun overexposure, try only under a doctor's supervision
Fish oil supplements	Dietary supplements that contain oil from cold-water fish (e.g., mackerel, salmon, black cod, albacore tuna, herring and sardines)	The active ingredients are known as omega-3 fatty acids. These may help reduce the inflammation associated with psoriasis	Several studies show modest improvement. Anecdotally, numerous reports of reduced itching and scales	High doses can affect blood clotting. Check with your doctor before trying
Low-calorie diet	About 1,200 calories per day	Some believe there may be a strong connection between obesity and psoriasis	Anecdotally, maintaining a normal weight often leads to an improvement in psoriasis	Once you reach your ideal weight, it's unhealthy to continue on a reduced-calorie diet. As always, check with your doctor before changing your diet
Herbal and dietary supplements that have been used for psoriasis	Burdock, milk thistle, yellow dock, mountain grape, sarsaparilla, red clover, Goa powder, and masterwort. Vitamins, minerals and herbal products such as roots	Varying claims	Inconclusive. Talk to your doctor before you start any supplement. Most are not clinically studied or approved by the FDA	May interact negatively with prescription medications. Consult with your doctor about any possible adverse side effects before trying any of these supplements

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