This is a question I often get asked and unfortunately there is no straightforward answer.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease causing an overproduction of skin cells.  This results in thickened patches of skin, which are red and scaly and often itchy and painful.  The patches most commonly appear on the knees, elbows, scalp, hands, feet, back, fingernails and toenails.  The condition may also lead to arthritis.

Treatment options range from topical emollients and vitamin D therapy through to powerful systemic medications.  The treatment of psoriasis is very individualised, meaning what works well for one person may have a negative or no effect on another. Similarly, the effects of various foods will have varying effects on each individual’s psoriasis.Diet Does Help

Whilst many psoriasis sufferers have long claimed that certain foods affect their psoriasis, it is only recently that doctors and specialists have come to consider the diet when treating psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a condition affecting the immune system.  A diet that focuses on a healthy immune system is therefore desirable, as it will help to reduce inflammation.  While there are no set rules that will guarantee to improve your psoriasis, there are some guidelines now available that will help.

Psoriasis may be helped by a diet high in antioxidants, which are nutrients that play a vital role in cellular health.  Natural antioxidants found in fruit and vegetables are better than supplements.

A gluten free diet has also been found to help some people with psoriasis.  This involves excluding all foods containing wheat, barley, rye and oats.

A diet high in probiotics may also improve the immune system and in turn reduce psoriasis symptoms.  Probiotics are foods high in good bacteria.  We all have bacteria in our intestines and for most the good outnumber the bad.  Ensuring you have more good bacteria than bad bacteria will improve the immune system and decrease the symptoms of psoriasis.  Yogurts and some milks with added live cultures will do this.

A healthy diet can also help to maintain a balance of bacteria in the intestines.  A diet high in fruit and vegetables, whole grains and beans and low in simple sugars will help to maintain this balance and a healthy immune system.Omega 3 has Amazing Effects on Psoriasis

Modifying your fat intake is one of the best dietary ways to control your psoriasis.  Increasing the essential fatty acid Omega 3 in your diet may help.  Omega 3 is responsible for the inflammatory process in the body. Today’s modern diet has many of us consuming very small amounts  (if any at all) of Omega 3.

Increasing the amount of fish oils, flaxseed oil and nuts in our diets will help, but in reality a dietary supplement will probably be needed for the omega 3 to have a positive effect on psoriasis.

There are many supplements available in health stores that are high in omega 3.  The Grahams Mega Oil is a dietary oil supplement designed specifically for this purpose.  Not only is it high in omega 3, but it also has a calculated ratio of omegas 3, 6 and 9 that will enhance the immune system and decrease inflammation even more than omega 3 on its own.

Adopt A Healthy Diet And Control your Psoriasis

In summary, adopting a healthy diet high in fruit and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds and omega 3 supplements is what we should all be doing.  It will not only help to reduce the symptoms of psoriasis, but may also help to reduce the risk of other medical problems like heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, kidney problems, Attention Deficit Disorder and many others.

By Paul G. Donohue M.D. January 24, 2011 12:00 AM

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: can you help me? My nephew has what they call scleroderma. It’s very painful. where does it come from? any cure?

“Scleroderma” (SKLAIR-uh-DUR-muh) literally translated from Greek means “hard skin.” It’s due to an overproduction of collagen, one of the body’s main building materials. the excessive production appears to come from an immune attack that shifts the manufacturing of this tough, fibrous substance into high gear. Skin thickens and hardens to such a degree that bending the fingers can be all but impossible. the face freezes into an immobile mask, unable to smile or frown.

Internal organs suffer the same fate. the kidneys are a frequent target, and, when affected, raise blood pressure and eventually fail. the lungs, heart, blood vessels and digestive tract all can be involved. It’s not surprising that scleroderma has many symptoms that depend on which organs are infiltrated with collagen.

Not every scleroderma patient experiences involvement of all the organs I mentioned. I don’t know the extent of your nephew’s involvement. No cure medicine exists. Many control medicines do, and the current outlook for scleroderma patients is much brighter than it was only a few decades ago. High blood pressure and kidney failure formerly were the principal causes of death. Today, with medicines called ACE inhibitors, the blood pressure-kidney problems are controllable.

Medicines that rein in the immune system are another step in conquering this illness. Cyclophosphamide is one example. and medicines that are directed at assisting organs damaged by collagen also are available.

You and your nephew ought to contact the Scleroderma Foundation at 800-722-HOPE or at its website, scleroderma.org. You’ll find it a source of valuable information, and your nephew will realize he is not battling this illness alone.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: please explain what a leaky heart valve is, what causes it and what the treatment is. I am 82.

Each of the four heart chambers comes equipped with a valve. When blood passes through a chamber, its valve closes so that blood doesn’t leak back into it. the valves keep blood moving in the right direction through and out of the heart. When a valve develops a leak, some blood flows back into the chamber it just left. less blood is pumped, therefore, with each heartbeat. Symptoms arise depending on the amount of blood that flows backward. If the leak is slight, no symptoms develop and nothing is done. If it’s large, people become breathless when they are active. Medicines can restore a better output of blood pumped from of the heart. the ultimate solution is replacement of the leaking valve. Rheumatic fever is one cause of leaking valves.

Readers may write to Dr. Donohue or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando FL 32853-6475.

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