My Experience Trying New Diets to Improve Psoriasis Symptoms

For years, I’ve considered trying new diets to improve my psoriasis symptoms. Recently, I decided to gather the courage and give it a real shot. I started with the idea of an all-natural dinner. But I quickly learned that it wasn’t going to be as easy as I had hoped.

The Struggle of Changing My Diet

Giving up familiar foods, like bread and meat, was challenging. These staples had been part of my diet for as long as I could remember. For dinner, I put together a salad with avocado, kale, and sundried tomatoes, without any dressing. The taste was horrible—it was barely edible, and I immediately realized that a drastic change like this wouldn’t be simple.

Research and Insights

After my less-than-successful experience with an all-natural dinner, I decided to research diets specifically aimed at improving psoriasis. Most of the information I came across pointed me toward a gluten-free diet and made a few key dietary recommendations:

• Avoid trigger foods
• Drink plenty of water
• Eliminate trans fats (found in packaged and fried foods)
• Avoid sugar
• Avoid alcohol

However, despite the popularity of these recommendations, there was no scientific evidence to fully back them up. It’s difficult to run a controlled study on psoriasis and monitor a group’s diet over a long period.

A More Serious Approach to My Diet

After gathering information from various sources, I decided to take my dietary changes more seriously. I made lists of foods that I could and could not eat.

Foods to Avoid

• Sweetened beverages
• Red meat
• Fried foods
• Pastries
• Pasta

Foods to Include

• Leafy greens
• Nuts
• Coldwater fish
• Flaxseeds, olive oil
• Walnuts and pumpkin seeds
• Figs and strawberries
• Mangoes
• Sweet potatoes and blueberries
• Spinach and carrots

Results

Sticking to the new diet was no easy task. The cravings for foods I loved were constant, and it took real discipline to stay on track. But after about a month of commitment, I began to notice actual improvements in my condition:

1. My ears were no longer inflamed.
2. The persistent itchy patch on my scalp disappeared.
3. My thighs, which were usually inflamed, had a pinkish hue but were no longer swollen.
4. My elbows, a frequent problem area, were completely clear of inflammation.

The Challenge of Maintaining the Diet

Unfortunately, despite seeing improvement, I struggled to completely stick to the diet. I couldn’t resist bread, dairy, and the occasional glass of wine. One morning, after indulging a bit too much, I woke up to find my ears, elbows, and thighs inflamed again—this time, they felt like they were on fire.

What I Learned

From this experience, I learned that diet alone wasn’t enough to control my symptoms. A complete lifestyle change is necessary to manage psoriasis. Although I couldn’t completely give up certain foods like bread, sugar, cheese, and alcohol, I’ve learned to reduce my intake of them.

Wrap-Up

This journey of trying different diets has taught me a lot about psoriasis and its triggers. While diet played a significant role in improving my symptoms, I now know that managing this condition involves more than just the food I eat. It’s about making healthier, long-term changes across all aspects of my life.