Nutrition In Psoriatic Arthritis

Be sure to include these foods in your menu if you suffer from psoriatic arthritis: Matcha green tea, avocado, ginger, spinach

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) sometimes occurs with psoriasis, a chronic noninfectious disease that affects the skin on the elbows, legs, chest, and head. Psoriatic arthritis affects the joints, which swell, they feel pain and stiffness.

People with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis have an increased risk of heart problems, high blood pressure, and diabetes. What these diseases have in common is inflammation, and it can be successfully combated with the help of a proper diet.

Let's say right away that it is impossible to cure psoriatic arthritis with the help of any diet. But the symptoms of this disease can be alleviated and controlled.

To treat PsA, you need to eat foods that reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer by reducing inflammation. These are various vegetables and fruits, legumes, fish, beans, nuts. It is best to cook dishes with healthy fats, for example, with olive oil. They should be seasoned with fresh herbs and spices (ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, rosemary, oregano, garlic and sage).

As you know, an anti-inflammatory diet involves a high content of dietary antioxidants.

Be sure to include these products in your menu if you suffer from psoriatic arthritis

Green tea and matcha

 

Tea contains large amounts of catechins, powerful antioxidants that have anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties. Green tea can also have an anti-arthritic effect, thus protecting a person from inflammation.

Matcha (matchu) is a classic Japanese powdered green tea. Its leaves are eaten during teatime and used as a food additive to some dishes (for example, it is added to ice cream, pies, cookies and donuts). Matia has the same beneficial properties (and even more) as traditional green tea.

Avocado

 

Avocado is the only fruit that provides the human body with healthy, useful fat. This tropical fruit contains a large number of vitamins and minerals. It is especially rich in potassium, lutein, beta-carotene and vitamins C, E and K.

Green

 

Leafy greens (cabbage, spinach, Swiss chard) are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Note that even more nutrients are found in leafy greens that are only half grown. Be sure to eat it if you have psoriatic arthritis.

Ginger

 

Ginger contains a large amount of antioxidants, as well as more than 14 different useful bioactive compounds (among them, for example, gingerol, shogaol and paradol). All this gives it very good anti-inflammatory properties.

Products to avoid

People with psoriatic arthritis should eat fewer foods that cause inflammation. Harmful saturated fats from processed foods, simple carbohydrates, sugar and alcohol. Therefore, with PsA, you should give up sweet carbonated drinks, white bread, white rice, cakes, processed meat (sausage), sweets, fatty foods, alcohol (especially alcoholic drinks with sugar).

Scientists have proven that overweight and obesity increase the risk of developing psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. And saturated fats from processed foods, simple carbohydrates, sugar and alcohol can lead to excess weight. This is another reason why it is necessary to minimize food with such substances.

In 2014, Italian scientists concluded that losing weight through diet and exercise reduces overall inflammation and alleviates the symptoms of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Healthy intestinal microflora

 

Bacteria in the intestines play a huge role in human health. What a person eats directly affects the intestinal microflora.

In 2016, American scientists published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatology the results of a study in which they compared the gut bacteria of healthy people with the gut bacteria of people with psoriasis and PsA. It turned out that people with psoriasis and PsA have fewer types of bacteria in their intestines than in healthy people. At the same time, patients with psoriatic arthritis also have less of certain types of intestinal bacteria, as do people with inflammatory bowel diseases (such as Crohn's disease).

In order to maintain a healthy intestinal microflora, you should include more fruits and vegetables in your diet (fiber from plant foods is good food for intestinal bacteria).

Probiotics

People with psoriatic arthritis can improve their gut microflora with probiotics. In this case, a probiotic containing strains of several bacteria is needed, as they have different functions in the intestine. It is best to consult a doctor, he will tell you which probiotic you need specifically.

There is no specific diet to treat psoriatic arthritis. However, with the help of certain products, you can reduce the symptoms of this disease and reduce the risk of further complications.