A psoriasis detox diet plan…to most, it sounds like a lifesaver. To me, it usually sounds like a set of restrictions that may damage your relationships with food and make psoriasis a secondary health problem.
Of course, it depends on the approach because there is some evidence that nutrition can help relieve its symptoms.
I know this sounds confusing, so prepare for a mind-changing ride.
I’ll talk with you about psoriasis detox diets, how and why they are supposed to work, their risks, and myths about them. Then, we’ll discover the nutritional secrets to healthy skin and psoriasis symptom relief.
The word ‘detox’ is so appealing to people that they are willing to try anything detoxifying. Without even realizing it’s often marketing lingo for a diet that provides minimal or temporary results with lots of restrictions.
So, if you’re one of the 2-3% of the world’s population struggling with psoriasis (17), please, don’t hop on those promising diets until you finish reading this article. There’s a much better solution.
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First of all, let’s learn the basics.
Psoriasis is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder that causes skin cells to produce much faster. They can’t shed these dead cells due to the growth speed of new cells, so patients see dry, itchy, inflamed skin areas on their bodies (18).
Some of the most common triggers of psoriasis (19) are:
Research shows that certain adjustments to your nutrition may help ease the symptoms (10), helping to make the healing process smoother. Suggestions vary, but usually such diets minimize dairy, alcohol, red meat, added sugars, and other foods and drinks.
Most conventional psoriasis detox diets put you through rough limitations, which is not good for your overall health. However, marketers claim such quick, 7-day sprints should help you remove toxins, slim down, and all that without harm to your health.
IMPORTANT: These claims aren’t related to personalized doctor-approved meal plans.
Removing certain foods that may trigger an autoimmune response and instead having nutritious foods to supply the body with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, logically improves an individual’s health.
For example, a small research study showed that people with psoriasis often had a higher level of oxidative stress and a lower level of antioxidants (2). This suggests that increasing antioxidant intake may help relieve the symptoms of the condition, or help prevent further complications (16).
That being said, the results of dietary interventions are highly individual. So, there’s no perfect healing recipe for everyone, unfortunately. Please note that there has to be some degree of personalization to your meal plan.
Let’s debunk some marketing myths about psoriasis detox diets:
A review included some studies which found that higher intakes of veggies and fruits were associated with lower frequency of psoriatic episodes (15). However, if these changes in lifestyle are only temporary, so would be the result.
This brings us to the point that long-term symptom relief only occurs if you change your lifestyle permanently.
Adjustments to your diet work not because of detox but because of trigger food elimination. There are systems in our bodies responsible for toxin processing and cleansing, so additional detoxes aren’t necessary.
Not at all. You have to find out what foods you don’t tolerate well and gradually remove them. Moreover, studies show that consuming whole grains (if you tolerate gluten) may in fact decrease inflammation (20, 21), which might make it possible for the psoriasis situation to improve.
A well-marketed detox diet, a psoriasis liver cleanse, a master cleanse, etc. remove all potential trigger foods from your daily meals, adding more ‘cleansing’ foods and drinks. Some diets are liquid-only and make you drink juices all day long. They also often don’t leave you time to prepare your body for the start and the finish of such a diet.
These detox diets can be dangerous. A true elimination diet done for medical reasons should only be done under the supervision of a healthcare professional.
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Some of the most dangerous risks of psoriasis detox diets are potential nutrient deficiency and eating disorders.
Many diets encourage eliminating nightshades (peppers, eggplants, tomatoes, etc.). They are valuable sources of nutrients (6, 14, 3), so cutting them out may cause deficiencies.
Another example: poor gluten-free diets may lead to fiber, zinc, iron, vitamin B12, magnesium, and folate deficiencies (11).
Also, if you remove all the potential triggers from your diet you won’t be able to understand which of them in particular causes the symptoms to become more severe.
It’s a controversial topic because I’m sure there must be people whose condition is triggered by all the foods I’ve mentioned. In this case, it’s crucial to consult a specialist to help you determine which specific foods are triggers for you and take supplements if they recommend them to avoid deficits and support your body.
Restricted diets are difficult to maintain for a long time. People may break from it and start eating compulsively or it may trigger disordered eating behaviors (13). These conditions involve both physical and mental aspects, which means treating them is pretty difficult.
Nutrition – yes! Evidence-lacking restrictive ‘detox’ diets – no! They have more drawbacks than benefits and you’re risking developing other health conditions.
We should learn to divide the two terms.
IMPORTANT: If it’s a special diet your doctor has prescribed along with vitamins and minerals to support the body, it’s OK. You should always consult a qualified specialist.
Can you reverse psoriasis with diet totally? Unfortunately, no. But, to manage the disease, you need a complex approach, and nutrition is one of its elements. You may be able to decrease the severity of symptoms dramatically with the help of balanced eating.
For example, adding nutrient- and antioxidant-rich foods such as vegetables, fruits, seeds, etc. can help (1).
Here’s more research for evidence:
Let’s emphasize again that the changes in nutrition have to be personalized. Some people benefit from adding more fruits and vegetables, while others see little to no improvement. A gluten-free diet is also not a perfect formula because people without gluten sensitivity don’t associate consuming it with a higher risk of psoriasis and similar conditions (12).
Read More: No Carb No Sugar Diet Meal Plan: Is It Healthy For Weight Loss?
“How can I reverse psoriasis naturally?”
Well, not reverse but tame a bit. There’s something you can do.
Here are the foods and drinks you can avoid or limit to decrease psoriasis symptoms:
Which diet helps clear psoriasis? In brief, a balanced one without triggering foods. Here, you’ll find options that often help decrease psoriasis symptoms. All of these are a part of a Mediterranean diet, which is sometimes recommended to psoriasis patients.
IMPORTANT: I’ll never get tired of reminding you that these recommendations are general in nature. Your body may react badly to foods that are considered the healthiest, and it’s OK because we are all different. Make absolutely sure to consult a registered dietitian before drastically changing your diet.
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To be more precise, here are some great psoriasis-friendly snacks for you:
Snacking is often a problem when people try to maintain a healthy diet. Keeping your snacks tasty and nutritious will help you not only lose weight sustainably but tame health conditions such as psoriasis.
For those of you who are overwhelmed with the amount of info and scared to start, here are some tips:
The best detox diet for psoriasis is balanced eating under a professional’s supervision. Of course, you can try a classic detox plan, but there are many risks. Such ‘cleanses’ usually have a lot of restrictions that lead to a nutrient deficit and can trigger eating disorders.
That means you can do more harm than good.
The best way out is to consult a specialist and build a healthy, balanced diet where you have all the macro and micronutrients and don’t have any of the major trigger foods.
Don’t look for a quick fix. Psoriasis is a serious condition and, depending on the severity, may take a long time to reverse. Be consistent with your eating habits, follow your doctor’s recommendations, and you’ll achieve long-term results.
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