One of the many traditions with ringing in the New Year is to set some New Year’s resolutions. With the cold winter dryness causing psoriasis flare ups it can be difficult to come up with anything that doesn’t relate to clear skin. So here are 5 New Year’s resolutions for the psoriasis sufferer:
- Go Gluten Free There is still a lot of research that is needed to help support the theory that a gluten free diet helps reduce the symptoms of psoriasis, but there have been some promising success stories! If you would like to find out more click here.
- Maintain a Healthy Weight Extra weight that we carry around can cause chafing which in turn can irritate the skin and can trigger flexural psoriasis (psoriasis in the folds of the skin).
- Limit Alcohol Consumption This applies primarily to the heavy consumption of alcohol which can trigger psoriasis. It is recommended that men should limit their drinks to two a day and women should drink no more than one. Please note that if you take medication for psoriasis or any other condition that you should consult your doctor before you consume any amount of alcohol. If you would like to find out more click here.
- Quit Smoking It has been found that smokers are more likely to have psoriasis. This means that the amount that you smoke and how long you have been smoking can greatly affect your level of risk in developing psoriasis. If you would like to find out more click here.
- Eat Foods that Reduce Inflammation Again, more studies are being conducted to support this theory but so far it looks like eating antioxidant rich foods can make a difference! These types of foods include but are not limited to: berries, leafy greens, salmon, sardines, and other fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, thyme, sage, cumin, ginger, and heart-healthy sources of fat like olives, seeds, and nuts. Some foods to avoid that increase inflammation are processed foods, refined sugars, fatty red meats, and dairy. If you would like to find out more click here.