Have you wondered if psoriasis and diet are connected?
Having suffered from psoriasis myself I got to thinking if what I was eating was causing, or at least contributing to, the onset of the disease.
What I discovered was that there are 2 distinct arguments on the topic:
1.) No, psoriasis and diet are not linked
Despite many clinical studies on the subject, non have shown a connection between psoriasis and diet. Most dieticians will give psoriasis sufferers the same advice as anyone else: eat a healthy balanced diet and get some exercise.
2.) Yes, there is a link between psoriasis and diet
For anyone who suffers from psoriasis, there is always a trigger that causes an outbreak. It is argued that this trigger is often in their diet. Psoriasis has been blamed on many different foods such as eggs, sugar, red meat, coffee etc.
So, which argument should you believe?
Well, they are both right in their own way. While no studies have proven a link between psoriasis and diet, it doesn’t mean there absolutely isn’t one.
Having said that, there are people who will eat all the wrong foods all their lives and never get psoriasis, as well as those who eat all the right foods and are plagued by scaly skin.
If you do notice a certain food tends to cause an outbreak, then you should obviously avoid it. It may not guarantee you never get psoriasis again, because there are usually multiple factors involved in the disease, but you will at least have identified one of your triggers.
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Acid reflux is a very serious condition, one that is typically more dangerous than even the patient understands. Most who have this condition know that it’s painful and can interfere with eating and digesting, but few realize how it can lead to ulcers and abrasions in the esophagus; these can cause internal bleeding, difficulty in eating and swallowing, and in some extreme cases, even cancer of the esophagus. If you have acid reflux you may have tried many medications to no avail and may be wondering if there is some natural cure that will work and that won’t have all the side effects of those harsh antacids and other prescriptions.
There are some natural things you can do to help treat and even cure your acid reflux. For many people just making a few changes in the diet and in your lifestyle can help tremendously. Avoiding foods that are high in acid content, such as red meat, alcohol, fried foods, and citrus fruits, and propping yourself up at night when you go to sleep can cut down on many cases. But sometimes even making these changes isn’t quite enough and you need to do something a bit more proactive to address your acid reflux.
Believe it or not, drinking plenty of water is one good way to address your acid reflux. The water will help to dilute the acid in your stomach and will also help with digestion. Sometimes it’s not just what we eat but how much we’ve eaten that causes our flare-ups. When the stomach is overly full the contents, including the stomach acid, have no place else to go but back up the esophagus. Water helps us to feel full so we won’t eat as much and helps the food to break down quicker so it can move through the digestive system quicker. Also, many wonder if honey is a cure or treatment for acid reflux and the good news is that many sufferers report that it may very well be. Honey is very thick and has a tendency to coat the stomach and digestive system overall. Not only will it quell acid flare-ups it can also help with digestive disorders as well. Honey seems to help food to break down and coats the small and large intestine, which means that digested food moves through quicker and easier.
If you have a hard time just eating plain honey on a spoon to treat your acid reflux think of ways you can incorporate it into your diet every day in small ways. Use it in tea rather than sugar. Put some on your toast in the morning. Add it to a peanut butter sandwich instead of jelly. Drizzle some on a muffin for a midday snack. And whatever you do, pay attention to whether or not it seems to be helping with your acid reflux; every person’s system is different so what works for one person might not work for you. On the other hand, if it does give you a measure of relief, then enjoy it!
Protein and it’s many functions
After water it is the most plentiful substance in the body. Some feel that protein in the form of meat and poultry are essential to the diet, others think that protein is animal meat only. Protein however, comes in many forms and some are better for you than others.
There are lots of views on the level of protein we need in our daily food allowance. I am going to cover choosing the right protein and the quantities you should consume for optimum health and of course weight loss!
Benefits of Protein- the scientific bit:
Needed to rebuild body cells, tissue, muscles and organs
Used to keep our amino acid pool topped up – AA’s are used for building and repairing the cells of the body
It provides enzymes and hormones
It is a vital element in our body’s structure
It is needed in the process of producing hair and nails
It is used as a source of energy if there is an inadequate source
Quite amazing don’t you think!
Things you need to know:
To understand the type of energy we get from protein, you first need to imagine a scenario of a sprinter as he or she runs the fast but short distance to the finish line. Protein provides that level of energy – a rush of energy which soon wears off.
The digestive system will not cope with the digestion of high levels of protein, it creates stress to the kidneys & liver and it leaves undigested proteins in the colon causing digestive problems such as flatulence, bloating, IBS, constipation and much more.
High protein diets do not enhance muscle strength, size or mass, and therefore offer no advantage
Choosing the right Protein:
Meat contains saturated fat which is unhealthy. It is not an essential form of protein. You can get your protein from far better sources. If animal protein is eaten a better option would be poultry. Try to limit your intake to 1 per week of red meat and no more than 2 times per week of poultry – weight 50-100 grams.
Fish is a good form of protein and should be eaten 2-3 times per week and 2 of these portions should contain Omega3 such as Salmon, Mackerel or fresh Tuna. Did you know that there is no Omega3 in tinned Tuna
Nuts and seeds are a healthy option but contain a lot of fat/oils therefore a lot of calories, however this is good fat so can be consumed in small amounts – say a tablespoon on cereal, salad or as a snack
Eggs due to cholesterol should be limited to one per week
Beans, pulses & brown rice and grains contain protein along with carbohydrates so a good source of protein as they do not contain fat therefore low in calorific value.
Try to replace some of your current meat protein with these foods.
Daily Recommended amount of Protein:
Protein should make up approx 15% of our daily intake of food
Whilst it is vitally important to our diets we do not need very much of it. Protein in any form should be limited to a maximum of 2-3 portions per day of between 50 – 125gms and be made up mostly of non-animal protein.
As a rule of thumb protein should never be more than 1/6th of the quantity of food on your plate. Over time plates have become very large so a good example would be a dessert plate.
Karen Fullick – Nutritional Therapist
Tip of the day
Try introducing basmati brown rice to your daily food allowance. It has a nutty taste and more chewy texture than white rice. It is full of nutrients and slow release energy. Eating this with vegetable curry is a tasty, healthy alternative to steak and chips and you will feel better afterward!
Those of you who have just started using supplements as part of your training an nutrition programs take note – sports supplements are not some magic pills. They will not suddenly add 20 pounds to your body weight or 50 pounds to your bench press. Sports supplements can be very useful for bodybuilders and athletes of all kinds, however you also need to have your diet and training correct for them to work effectively. If you’re not training properly all you’ll get from sports supplements is expensive urine.
Food supplements like protein powders and meal replacement bars can be very useful in adding calories to your diet, but are not meant to replace good nutrition. I know how difficult it can be to eat 6 or 7 meals a day and these MRP’s can be a great way to add 1-2 meals to your normal eating. They can start to make a difference in whether or not your grow.
To increase strength you’ll want to make sure you’re taking a good multi-vitamin, plenty of protein (at least 1 gram per pound of bodyweight) and creatine. Your body needs many different nutrients to function properly and a good multi-vitamin will make sure your not missing out of any of them. Vitamin and mineral deficiency can lead to fatigue, increased fat storage and muscle cramps.
Creatine is an amino acid that our muscles use for energy. It is normally found in red meat, but it’s possible to saturate our bodies with much more creatine than can be had from a normal diet and doing so can help with short energy bursts in the gym as well as overall strength. Creatine will also draw water into your muscles, which aside from the increased size of your muscles provides another great benefit. The extra water in your muscle also serves to increase strength through a volumizing effect that is not yet completely understood. Creatine is completely legal and has been used for decades by strength athletes of all kinds to boost their strength and size.
Glutamine is another vitally important amino acid. It is produced by our bodies, however our bodies can’t produce enough to meet the demands of a hard working athlete. It is the most commonly found amino acid in muscles tissue so you’ll want to supplement with it to ensure maximum growth. Glutamine also has anti-oxidant effects and will help protect your body from the stresses of hard lifting. It is also thought that supplementing with glutamine can increase the amount of human growth hormone our bodies produce which will increase muscle growth and decrease fat storage.
Finally, if you’re interested in really taking it to the next level you can investigate the legal steroids and prohormones on the market that will increase testosterone levels, decrease estrogen and help increase your strength and muscle mass, sometime dramatically. These supplements are not to be taken lightly and you should do your research before beginning to take them. In addition, you should be completely finished growing naturally so these legal anabolic supplements should not be taken by anyone under the age of 21.