Diet tips for psoriatic arthritis: Foods to eat and avoid

Date: Apr-18-2017 Psoriasis is a condition that causes red, itchy patches of skin, most often on the elbows, knees, and scalp. Some types of psoriasis cause painful, scale-like rashes that crack and bleed, while others cause white bumps, blisters, or small red dots.

Anywhere between 6-39 percent of people with psoriasis will also develop psoriatic arthritis (PsA). This additional condition causes swelling, pain, and stiffness in the joints.

People with psoriasis and PsA may have an increased risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. The common link between all of these conditions is inflammation.

There is no specific diet that causes or treats psoriasis or PsA.

Contents of this article:

Foods to eat

Foods to avoid

Maintaining a healthy gut

Foods to eat

A healthful diet including vegetables, fruit, legumes, and seeds is recommended for people with PsA.

The foods that are good for treating PsA are the same foods that reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer by decreasing inflammation.

The base of a person's diet should involve:

vegetables and fruits in a range of colors

legumes

fish

beans

nuts and seeds

It is best to cook with healthful fats, such as extra virgin olive oil, unrefined coconut oil, or avocado oil.

People should season their foods with fresh herbs and spices like ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, rosemary, oregano, garlic, and sage.

Foods high in dietary antioxidants are the main focus of an anti-inflammatory diet.

People with PsA may want to include these inflammation fighters in their diets:

Green tea or matcha

Tea contains catechins, powerful antioxidants known for having beneficial anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. Green tea may also have an anti-arthritic effect by protecting against inflammation.

Matcha is a form a powdered green tea that may have even more health benefits. Unlike traditional tea, matcha leaves are physically eaten instead of just being steeped in water.

However, matcha has become fashionable and is being added to cakes, cookies, and even donuts. Consequently, just because the food has matcha in it does not mean it is healthful.

Avocado

Avocado is the only fruit that provides healthful, beneficial fat. Avocados have upward of 20 different vitamins and minerals and are especially high in potassium, lutein, beta-carotene, and vitamins C, E, and K.

Greens

Leafy greens like kale, spinach, Swiss chard, beet greens, and collard greens are the best for people who are looking to add more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Just half a cup of collard greens provides around 662 percent of daily-recommended vitamin K intake.

Sprouts and the seedlings of vegetables and herbs, otherwise known as microgreens, often contain an even higher concentration of nutrients when compared with the fully-grown species.

Fatty fish

The healthy fat in salmon, trout, and herring is good for heart health. It also provides anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids

Ginger

Ginger is high in antioxidants and contains at least 14 healthy bioactive compounds, enhancing its anti-inflammatory powers.

Three of these particular compounds are gingerol, shogaol, and paradol.

Foods to avoid

Cookies and cakes that can contribute to weight gain should be avoided by people with PsA.

There are also foods that can cause inflammation, as well as worsen or increase the risk of inflammatory conditions. These include saturated fats from processed foods, simple carbs, sugar, and alcohol.

Each of these foods can also contribute to weight gain. Weight gain and obesity are associated with psoriasis and obese people have an increased risk for psoriasis and PsA.

Weight loss through diet and exercise has been shown to decrease overall inflammation as well as psoriasis and PsA symptoms. However, a recent review suggests that overall evidence to support this is limited.

Foods to avoid for people with PsA include:

sugary drinks and soda

white bread, white rice, and other processed or enriched bread products

packaged cookies, cakes, and snack foods

processed meats such as bacon, sausages, and hot dogs

candy

fried foods

alcohol, especially drinks with sugar

Maintaining a healthy gut

The health of the gut plays a huge role in overall health, including the immune system, metabolism, and weight. The bacteria in the gut play a vital part in making sure the body works as it should.

There are huge numbers of bacterial cells inside the human body. Diet directly impacts this important community of cells.

A study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology compared the gut bacteria of healthy people to those with PsA. The authors found that people with psoriasis and PsA had less diverse gut bacteria than healthy people.

Several types of healthful bacteria that were identified to be lower in people with PsA have also been found to be low in people with inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease.

When people eat foods such as white bread and other simple carbohydrates, these are quickly digested. This means that they don't even make it to the end of the digestive system where the beneficial bacteria live. If someone is eating a low-fiber diet, they are essentially starving those healthful bacteria.

Constipation or diarrhea may be signs that a person has unhealthy gut bacteria.

Signs that someone may have unhealthy or unbalanced gut bacteria:

chronic constipation or diarrhea

being sick multiple times a year or prolonged symptoms

recent use of antibiotics

autoimmune conditions

Foods to eat to improve gut health include the following:

Vegetables and fruits: Getting fiber from a variety of plant foods helps to maintain and feed the diversity of bacteria in the gut.

Fermented foods: Kimchi, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, and miso contain beneficial bacteria.

Beans and legumes: High in fiber, beans and legumes also feed the healthful gut bacteria.

Probiotics

People with PsA may also want to start taking a probiotic to help boost their gut bacteria. Different strains of bacteria have different jobs, so people should find a probiotic that contains many different strains.

A person may also want to find a probiotic that has strains particular to their needs. People with PsA should speak to their doctor or a registered dietitian to find a probiotic that is appropriate.

Summary

There is no specific prescribed diet for PsA. However, eating an anti-inflammatory diet high in plant-based foods may decrease symptoms and reduce the risk of further complications.

Plant-based foods include vegetables, fruits, legumes, seeds, and unrefined oils.

Written by Megan Ware RDN LD

Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.