Our Guide to Switching to a Plant-Based Diet for Your Psoriasis
Living with psoriasis is possible with a few careful changes to your lifestyle. The condition is exacerbated by a diet rich in gluten and fatty acids, so many sufferers find relief by reducing or even eliminating the consumption of these dietary components. Unfortunately, most foods available in supermarkets contain one or both of these items.
If you’re looking to reduce the frequency of your psoriasis flare-ups, consider a plant-based diet. While there are still items you have to avoid, going plant-based greatly reduces your consumption of both gluten and unhealthy fats. Foods rich in fatty acids contain arachidonic acid. This compound is responsible for causing psoriatic flare-ups. Red meat, butter, and eggs are the usual sources of arachidonic acid.
Meanwhile, gluten is a trigger for celiac disease among people with autoimmune disorders. People who consume fatty acids and gluten are more likely to suffer from inflammations. Wheat, rye and barley bread, beer, and processed foods all contain gluten. Thus, a plant-based diet, free from both gluten and unhealthy fats, should prove beneficial in the long run.
Going for a psoriasis-friendly plant-based diet can take a bit of effort at first, but you can easily adapt it to it by following a few simple steps:
Rotate your plant-based meals at first
If you are adjusting to a gluten-free, vegan diet as a meat- and dairy-eater, you need to be easy on yourself. It is difficult to make any change in your lifestyle, much more so one as drastic as this. If you cannot make the switch completely, ease it in. For instance, commit to one plant-based meal a day, for a couple of weeks, and slowly increase your intake as you go.
Choose meals that you already like, but just happen to be plant-based. If you like samosas, for example, plan a meal around it! Just substitute the eggs in the flour to make it vegan. Some dishes you might not realize are vegan include things like soba noodle soup, no-meat burritos, and vegetable stir-fry.
Start shopping more consciously
Be more mindful of what you are consuming. Even if you are at the transition phase and have not fully replaced your diet, consciously steer clear from red meat, dairy, wheat bread, and things that especially aggravate your psoriasis. Go for whole foods, or shop in farmer’s markets.
Replace snacks with smoothies
If you are a habitual snacker or have a sweet tooth, quitting chocolate and junk food might be difficult. Instead of relying on crisps and candy for your fix, you can get a natural high from fruit smoothies. There are plenty of gluten-free smoothie recipes online—choose ones with berries and dark fruit, as these have plenty of antioxidants.
Be intentional about learning recipes
Typically, people face roadblocks in adapting to new diets when they don’t plan far enough ahead. For the first few days or weeks, it will be easy to stick to a new diet. Everything is new, after all, and anything new is exciting. However, the novelty wears off, and if you keep eating the same five vegan meals you will quickly grow tired of your diet.
Seek out new vegan recipes for yourself, and incorporate them into your meal planning. Most of us cannot afford personal chefs, so we must take it upon ourselves to find and explore new recipes. Remember to treat yourself, too: include recipes for vegan desserts, or versions of meat-based foods you used to eat. Don’t consider it a chore and instead consider it an exciting new hobby. This will make the process much easier and less stressful.
Conclusion
A plant-based diet is a big shift, especially for people who have been eating meat, dairy, and gluten their whole life. However, keep in mind that you are making this decision for yourself, and to help you keep your symptoms at bay. Planning your transition will help you ease into it, and will eventually make the transition permanent.
If you are looking for a supplement to help you with your psoriasis symptoms, choose Psolace. Our 100 percent vegan, 30-day treatment system was uniquely formulated and designed for people who suffer from autoimmune issues such as psoriasis. Contact us today to learn more.