Sugar And Psoriasis : How Sugar Impacts Psoriasis

Living with psoriasis, I know the struggle all too well. The itchy, red patches, the constant battle with flakes, and the unpredictable flare-ups that can disrupt life.

While triggers vary for everyone, one culprit has emerged as a potential enemy in disguise: sugar.

Before you get rid of your cookies and chocolates, wait a moment! I’m not saying sugar is all bad.

But knowing how it might affect psoriasis inflammation could really help you take better care of your condition. So let’s get started.

Relation Between Sugar and Psoriasis

The relationship between sugar and psoriasis is deep as both are linked and cause you trouble.

One is a severe health condition that has zero cure but is manageable with proper diet and skincare. On the other hand, your guilty pleasure, like deserts full of sugar, can trigger psoriasis.

Multiple studies have confirmed that sugar is a poison for your health especially worsen the psoriasis condition and cause inflammation.

But, the question remains: how and why does sugar intake trigger psoriasis? 

Below, I mention the complete outlook of how sugar can cause psoriasis.

Sugar

Suffering from psoriasis is challenging, so you have to be conscious before eating anything, as it can trigger your skin issues.

NIH confirms that add-on sugar intake is dangerous and can worsen psoriasis, but natural sugar such as fruits contains appropriate minerals, vitamins and fibres are good for your health.

Many researchers found that healthy eating habits can help maintain psoriasis by balancing the gut bacteria preventing skin disease.

However, a family diabetes or psoriasis history keeps you at a higher risk of developing this condition. 

Psoriasis 

After having sugary delights, your immune system overreacts and swiftly starts producing new skin cells in the deepest layers

. This makes it hard for your body to utilise hormonal insulin, leading to psoriasis and creating patches around your elbows, knees and scalp.

Although psoriasis is caused by genetics and environmental effects, it is manageable with proper diet plan, medication, and skincare routine. 

Psoriasis Effect On Sugar

Psoriasis doesn’t have a permanent solution or treatment as scientists are still finding the root cause, but they said this condition can worsen due to sugar intake.

According to the reports, 21% of psoriasis patients have abnormal blood sugar levels, confirming that sugar can trigger psoriasis.

That’s why it’s crucial to consult with a specialist for a diet plan and explore other management options. Or, it could lead to severe health problems. 

Here, I mentioned some of the reported health conditions that psoriasis patients suffer: 

• Diabetes 2: With psoriasis, your body boosts the production of glucose but reduces the creation of insulin. Severe inflammation increases the chances of diabetes 2 increase. 

• Cardiovascular issues: Chances of heart attacks and strokes rise due to prolonged-lasting inflammation of the overall body, affecting heart and blood vessels. 

• Psychological Health: psoriasis makes your appearance dull and dry, damaging your confidence and self esteem. Mostly, people who have this condition are diagnosed with severe mental issues such as anxiety and depression. 

• Obesity: Avoiding multiple unhealthy habits that can worsen psoriasis, like consuming excessive sugar, can lead to obesity. You need to be physically active, stop alcohol consumption, and include nutritional foods. 

• Metabolic syndrome: This one is linked with diabetes 2, which clearly states insulin resistance in your body. Another link is that adipocytokines support organ function and fat metabolism, but when they drop, metabolism syndrome develops. 

• Psoriatic arthritis: Your immune system makes psoriasis worse by leading to psoriatic arthritis. It makes your joints stiff, swell, and painful. However, most patients are safe from psoriatic arthritis with exercise and maintaining a healthy weight. 

Sugar and Inflammation ( The Inflammatory Response and its Connection to Psoriasis )

Sugar and inflammation share a strong connection that can worsen your psoriasis disease.

When you add too much sugar to meals, it starts releasing inflammatory cytokines in the body.

It sends signals to direct your immune system response to heal injury or wound, but in this case, the high level of cytokines increases inflammation and plays a massive role in excessive body fat.

Also, your body stores fat in the abdomen, which produces inflammatory molecules inside the central nervous system and damages immune function.

Moreover, National Library of Medicine claims that a C-reactive protein CRP in the blood increases after sugar delights. 

High CRP is the leading cause of multiple health issues. It raises blood pressure to increase the risk of heart attacks, and your body becomes insulin- resistant, leading to inflammation.

That’s why less sugar is better for preventing inflammation and heart disease, which can worsen psoriasis. 

Must Read: What Causes Bubble Guts ?

Practical Tips for Reducing Sugar Intake

Various treatments can help you eliminate psoriasis, but one of the easiest is controlling your diet chart and habits.

Practically, you must avoid sugar-based foods because they are the exact reason for worsening the skin condition by spiking blood sugar, leading to inflammation. 

According to John Hopkins Medicine, sugar significantly impacts skin health and worsen psoriasis symptoms.

So, it’s best to call out some eating habits and exchange them with healthy ones. 

Below are some exclusive tips you should implement to avoid aggravating psoriasis. 

• Smoking: Cigarettes contain tobacco leaves, which have natural sugars, but some high-end companies add more sugar to increase the level of chemicals, leading to worsen psoriasis.

• Alcohol: Drinking alcohol is the worst thing you can do with your skin health. It triggers psoriasis symptoms by raising blood pressure and inflammation. 

• Soda: Sodas contain high sugar, which could affect the immune system and start inflammation, so it’s best to avoid it.

• Cutting the portion: you can eat home-baked items, but cut the suggested sugar amount in the recipe by one-third to one-half.

• Extracts: For sweet taste, you can use ingredients like almonds,vanilla, honey and orange without triggering psoriasis 

Must Read : Breakfast For Prediabetes : Foods, Ideas & Special Tips

Dietary Recommendations for Psoriasis

You can’t eliminate sugar from your meals as the body needs it to produce glucose, a vital nutrient for brain and bloody functioning.

So stick to the natural sugar rather than jumping to add-on or harmful sugar-based items.

Also, the National Library of Medicine suggests that meals rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, probiotics, selenium and fiber can help improve psoriasis symptoms naturally.

Here, I will mention the foods you must include in your meals. 

Fruits

Fruits are a natural source of sugar packed with fiber, minerals and vitamins to aid in controlling your health without aggravating psoriasis.

Indeed, you can add them to breakfast to satisfy the sweet taste desire. Although, avoid canned or frozen fruits as they contain preservatives. 

Vegetable

Including vegetables is a healthy option, but nightshade veggies can flare up psoriasis. So, you should avoid them to protect from intestinal lining and immune system disorders.

However, to reduce the inflammation in the body, you should eat green vegetables daily. 

Nuts

Almonds, walnuts, and pistachios contain anti-inflammatory properties that benefit you in managing psoriasis conditions without increasing blood pressure.

They are the best option to have as a snack and exclude other high-sugar items while starving in the middle of the meals. 

Wrap Up

While not all sugar is harmful, excessive intake can worsen inflammation and trigger flare-ups.

Choosing natural sugars from fruits and incorporating anti-inflammatory foods can help improve psoriasis symptoms naturally,