Nutrition guidance and tips for Psoriatic Disease

A healthy, balanced diet is important for everyone, but it’s even more important for someone with psoriatic disease. The science isn’t clear if one eating pattern is better than another for psoriatic disease, but eating a nutritious diet may be one way to start feeling better. A healthy diet is full of whole grains, lean protein, fruits, and vegetables. Our Registered Dietitians have created an easy-to-use guide to nourish your body, no matter if you’ve just been diagnosed, are experiencing a flare, or are in remission. Use this downloadable tool as a starting point or as a refresher on how to nourish your body, lower inflammation, and feel like you again.

Shopping Tips

Below are a few simple suggestions to create a smoother grocery shopping experience.

At Home

• Use the “PD Shopping List” and recipes to plan meals and snacks for the week.
• Look for on-sale foods, coupons, or store discount offers to keep more money in your wallet.
• Shop online to save time and energy. Many grocery stores have in-store pick-up or at-home delivery options available.

At the Store

• Shop at non-peak times to avoid becoming overly tired.
• Take the “Reading a Food Label” handout to the store to make reading food labels easier.
• Bring a trusted friend or relative with you to lend a hand with the shopping and help carry the groceries.
• Ask for assistance when reaching items on top shelves, or if items are too heavy to pick up.
• Look for pre-washed or pre-cut fruits and vegetables to minimize food preparation.
• Purchase frozen fruit, vegetables, or grains for added convenience.
• Invest in reusable grocery totes with wide, comfortable handles. These are both eco-friendly and more comfortable to carry.
• Ask for assistance for carrying groceries to the car and loading the car. Most stores offer services to assist customers.
• Bring a cooler or cooler bag to keep frozen and refrigerated items cold on the drive home.
• Use a cooler with wheels to reduce hand use and minimize back strain when transporting groceries from the car to the house.

Nutrition 101

There’s no diet pattern that will cure psoriatic disease, but to feel your best it’s important to eat well. Eating a variety of nutritious foods, particularly those that help to fight inflammation, may help you feel better, increase energy levels, and better manage psoriatic disease symptoms. As a bonus, losing weight, or maintaining a healthy weight, may help to improve symptoms as well. Check out the nutrition tips below to help you feel your best!

Eat a well-balanced diet that includes

• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Lean protein
• Nuts and seeds
• Whole grains

Choose foods high in antioxidants (nutrients that help to protect healthy cells)

• Fruits: strawberries, blueberries, cherries, blackberries
• Vegetables: spinach, kale, collard greens, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts
• Herbs and Spices: dried or ground turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, garlic

Include healthy fats that help to lower inflammation

• Fatty fish: salmon, mackerel, tuna, sardines
• Nuts and seeds: almonds, walnuts, ground flax seed, chia seeds
• Fruit: avocado
• Oil: extra virgin olive oil, canola oil, walnut oil, avocado oil, flaxseed oil

Add fiber-rich foods to your plate to help lower inflammation, improve digestive health, and maintain blood sugar control

• Beans
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Nuts and seeds
• Whole grains

Skip out on foods that may increase inflammation in the body

• Red meat
• Processed meats: hot dogs, bratwursts, sausages, highly-processed deli meats
• Refined grains: white-flour based products (white bread, pasta, bagels, etc.)
• Sugary foods: sugar-sweetened beverages, pastries, cookies, candies, ice cream, cake
• Alcohol
• Fried foods
• Patients with psoriatic disease may find they are more sensitive to:
  • Gluten-containing foods
  • Dairy products
  • Nightshades – specific plants, including tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, and peppers, that may cause an inflammatory reaction and worsen symptoms in some people

Probiotics

Probiotics may also be beneficial for those with psoriatic disease. Probiotics are living microorganisms that are eaten or taken in supplement form for possible health benefits. Even though bacteria are usually thought of as harmful “germs,” our bodies need certain bacteria to function properly. For example, there are large amounts of bacteria in our digestive system that help break down food, destroy disease-causing germs, and make important vitamins.

Probiotics can be found in fermented foods like yogurt, or drinks, like kefir and kombucha. You can also take supplements that contain probiotics. For more specific information about which probiotic supplement to choose, check out the US Probiotics Guide.

When buying a probiotic there are many things to look for, including:

• Brand Quality: Do your research. Look for the NSF and/or the USP seal on products to determine safety and quality. For more information click here.
• High CFU (Colony Forming Units) Count: Choose a probiotic that has a higher number of CFUs, anywhere from 15 BILLION to 100 BILLION.
• Strain Diversity: Look for a probiotic supplement with at least 10 to 30 different strains of bacteria. Certain strains may be more helpful for some conditions than others. Using a tool like the US Probiotics Guide can help you find out which strain is best for you.