Can Your Diet Improve Your Psoriasis?

Posted by dermcareonline on January 21, 2010 under cholesterol, diet, omega-3 fatty acids, psoriasis |

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids. That means they cannot be made by the body, so you need to get it from your diet, in food. They are also called polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is a major types of omega-3 fatty acids ingested in foods. After ALA is injested, it is broken down into eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Omega-3 fatty acids are found in cold water oily fish like salmon, black cod, herring, mackrel, tuna, and halibut. It is also found in marine life like algae and krill, plants (purslane) and nuts and seeds like walnut, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, and flax seeds.
The American Heart Association recommends eating fish at least two times a week. It is advised that pregnant women, nursing mothers and young children avoid swordfish, shark, and king mackeral. They should take dietary supplements of omegy-3 fatty acids that are mercury free.

Omega-3 fatty acids have many advantages for your health.

• reduces inflammation (anti-inflammatory)
• prevents heart disease and coronary artery stenosis
• lowers triglyceride (TG) levels (bad cholesterol)
• increases high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels (good cholesterol)
• lowers blood clotting
• helps with rheumatoid arthritis
• helps with schizophrenia, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity (ADHD)

Symptoms of omega-3 fatty acid deficiency include

• extreme fatigue (feeling very tired)
• poor memory
• mood swings, depression
• poor circulation
• heart problems
• dry skin

How do omega-3 fatty acids improve your skin?

Studies have shown that even though Eskimos live in cold climates when psoriasis should get worse, Eskimos have a lower incidence of psoriaisis. So what are they doing right? Eskimos eat a lot of fish, so their diet is high in fish oil (which contains omega-3 fatty acids; ALA, EPA, and DHA).

In psoriasis, the immune system causes leukocyte infiltration and skin cells to grow rapidly, hence the thick plaques on the knees, elbows, and scalp. It is believed that this is secondary to amino acid metabolytes in the epidermis (upper layer of the skin). It is possible that by eating more omega-3 (anti-inflammatory), inflammation is reduced, and psoriasis gets better.

The studies are conflicting, and not everyone believes that this diet shows benefit for people that suffer with psoriasis. However, since the omega-3 fatty acids have overall health benefits, we should consider adding more omega-3 fatty acids to our diet, promoting heart and brain health, and possibly the skin as well.
The Mediterranean diet has a good balance of various fatty acids, and could be used to improve your overall health.