Understanding Psoriasis
Although many people use the terms eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis interchangeably when referring to any chronic, inflammatory disease, the truth is that psoriasis is a completely different skin condition. It is characterized by dry skin and red patches with distinct border between normal skin. It is often accompanied by itching and pain, too.
Psoriasis comes in many different forms, each with its unique set of characteristics. Sometimes it may even change from one form to another.
Symptoms of Psoriasis
Even though anyone is susceptible to psoriasis, it typically affects those aged between 10 and 40. In most cases it begins with a small patch on the buttocks, backs, knees, elbows, and the scalp. The patches may go away on their own after a couple of months, but they are likely to grow into larger ones, too.
Some individuals never have more than two patches, but some may have large patches that cover large areas. They might hurt or itch, depending on the location.
There are many different forms of psoriasis, out of which the plaque psoriasis is the most common. It starts as red patches or lesions covered with a white build-up of dead skin cells.
Inverse psoriasis is typically located under the armpits, groins, under the breasts and in other skin fold areas.
Erythrodermic psoriasis causes the skin to become scaly and the lesions keep the skin from acting as protection against infection and injury.
Pustular psoriasis is manifested by lesions that are large and commonly found on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.
Causes of Psoriasis
This disease is typically result of abnormal growth of skin cells. The lesions develop as result of conditions that irritate the skin, including infections, severe sunburn, or an allergy.
Many other factors are believed to contribute to psoriasis, such as incomplete protein digestion, sugar, alcohol and tobacco consumption, excessive consumption of animal fats and processed foods, excessive stress, excess keratin and copper, impaired liver function, and bowel toxemia.
Diet/Lifestyle Suggestions
Psoriasis and other skin disorders are caused by toxic matter in the bloodstream which cannot be filtered by the liver and kidneys. Hence, a detoxification process and complete change in your diet and lifestyle can go a long way in improving psoriasis and make it short-lived.
- Performing a gastrointestinal cleanse can improve the condition and accelerate the healing process.
- Limit the intake of sugar products and animal products like dairy and fats, all of which contain certain arachidonic acid, an acid known to be toxic for psoriasis sufferers.
- Eliminate alcohol and tobacco since they increase the absorption of toxic matter from the gut that stimulates psoriasis.
- It has been scientifically shown that fish oil can both prevent and alleviate the symptoms of psoriasis. Eating more cold-water fish like mackerel, halibut, salmon, and herring can notably relieve the symptoms, especially itching.
- Limit your consumption of omega-6-type vegetable oils like sunflower, corn, and margarines.
- Take supplements like probiotics, B vitamins, and vitamin D.
- Avoid sources of gluten like wheat.
- Drink a lot of water to flush out toxic matter from the system.
- Drink a couple of glasses of green juices a day to cleanse the system and alkalize the body.
Recommended Healing Foods for Remedy of Psoriasis
Green juices are one of the best foods that balance the body, remove toxins, parasites, and microbes, repair the cells, and heal them.
Here are some of the best greens and fruits that should be included in your diet:
- Cucumber
- Kale
- Celery
- Beetroot
- Cilantro
- Watercress
- Coconut
- Apple
- Lemongrass
- Ginger root
Some Suggested Combos (measurement for one portion):
- Lemongrass-ginger tea
- Drink fresh coconut water
- 2 green apples + 6 ribs of celery + 8-10 leaves of kale + ¼ lemon
- 2 green apples + 1 fennel + a bunch of watercress + ¼ lemon
- 1 cucumber + 1 medium-sized beetroot + ¼ lemon + a thumb-sized ginger root
- 1 cucumber + 6 ribs of celery + 4-6 radish (pungent) +¼ lemon
- 1 oz (1 shot) of wheatgrass juice a day + a squeeze of lemon juice
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