Psoriasis
The psoriasis-heart connection
Psoriasis is not just a cosmetic disease. It is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can develop on any part of the body. The most common form appears as raised, red patches and a silvery build-up of dead skin cells. This inflammatory disease generates inflammatory chemicals in the body and so increases the likelihood of blood and blood vessel damage. This is because inflammation can cause blood vessels, including arteries, to narrow, which limits blood flow. People with psoriasis should therefore make sensible lifestyle choices
The psoriasis-heart connection
Psoriasis is not just a cosmetic disease. It is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can develop on any part of the body. The most common form appears as raised, red patches and a silvery build-up of dead skin cells. This inflammatory disease generates inflammatory chemicals in the body and so increases the likelihood of blood and blood vessel damage. This is because inflammation can cause blood vessels, including arteries, to narrow, which limits blood flow. People with psoriasis should therefore make sensible lifestyle choices
- Avoid smoking
- Try to maintain a healthy lifestyle, including moderate exercise and a balanced diet
- Have your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar checked, because psoriasis itself might be a risk factor.
- Deal with stress or unresolved emotional issues.
- Find ways to relax
- Natural sunlight and bathing in the sea can be helpful
- The mechanisms that control skin cell division need to be balanced, and these mechanisms can only function properly if the digestive tract is working well. If the linings of the intestines are not healthy, due to constipation, poor digestion, food allergies etc - toxins can get into the body and affect the skin.
- As with so many skin problems, there seems to be a link with gut health and psoriasis. Often there is faulty digestion of protein and this, in turn, can create toxicity in the bowel, which weakens the gut lining and allows substances to intoxicate the rest of the body. This can lead to skin problems and other forms of inflammation. Taking a digestive enzyme supplement may help. Interestingly one study found psoriasis patients to be deficient in protein due to the rapid growth of their skin cells. Faulty digestion of protein in the first instance, only makes this situation worse.
- Support the liver. Any build-up of toxins has a knock-on effect of burdening the liver (the body’s main detoxification organ). The liver usually filters out toxins from the gut before they get out around the body, but if it is overloaded it becomes less efficient at this. Both the herb ‘milk thistle’ and the mineral ‘sulphur’, help to support the liver.
- Follow an anti-inflammatory diet that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, fish, and poultry.
- Stay away from fried foods, red meat, and sugar
- Sugar, alcohol and bad fats have a negative effect on the gut and liver
- Eliminating gluten (grains and flour products) can make a big difference for psoriasis sufferers as the condition also has an allergy component. Wheat is a known common irritant.
- Animal fats from meat and dairy should be limited because they can promote inflammation, as can commercially processed foods.
- Fish oils and other essential fats can help to control inflammation. Eat fish at least 3 times weekly.