Devised by sufferer Hanna Sillitoe, she cut out caffeine, alcohol,
sugar, dairy and wheat. Here is why.
Caffeine stimulates the nervous system to produce cortisol, a hormone
which helps the body respond to stress and preparing us for a ‘fight or flight’
response. Cortisol also:
- Has the potential to trigger skin conditions such as acne.
- Depresses the immune system, making it much more difficult for our skin to fight off bacteria.
- Encourages the body to pump out insulin. This can insulin trigger over-production of new skin cells, Increase the body’s inflammation levels (exacerbating existing skin conditions and causing skin to appear redder and more swollen).
Alcohol is a natural diuretic, so the more you drink, the more
dehydrated you become. Drinking too much deprives the skin of vital vitamins and nutrients
(e.g. Vitamin A is essential for cell renewal). Check labels, because alcohol is often a major ingredient in skin-care
products.
Sugary carbohydrates cause insulin levels to spike and potentially
causing stress, redness and visible swelling on the skin’s surface. Autoimmune illnesses such as psoriasis are activated by an
over-responsive immune system. Worst culprits include sugar, sweets, ice cream, white pasta, ketchup,
pre-packaged snacks and fizzy drinks. Digested sugar permanently attaches to the proteins in our skin through
a process known as glycation. Over time, this destroys collagen and elastin,
the proteins that keeping skin firm and supple.
Dairy is hard to digest, even in those without a diagnosed allergy and
can cause inflammation.
So try to eat as many anti-inflammatory foods as possible so focus on
eating more fruit and vegetables.
Wheat is high on the glycaemic index, and can also cause skin problems,
not only for those with a diagnosed allergy.
High GI foods raise blood sugar, in turn triggering insulin. Elevated
insulin levels are linked to increased sebum production that can clog pores and
lead to acne breakouts; more worryingly they promote chronic inflammation throughout
the body.
Nightshades (tomatoes, potatoes, aubergine and peppers) contain alkaloids which are believed to provoke gut
irritation (known as leaky gut) and so are not advisable for anyone with
autoimmune skin conditions such as psoriasis.
Everyone is different, so as always, it’s important to establish
whether these foods are posing a real problem for you
Hannah Sillitoe blog with recipes https://mygoodnessrecipes.com/
Source: Daily Mail article 3 November 2017
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-5032877/Psoriasis-eczema-sufferer-s-diet-cure-helps-thousands.html
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