Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a very common condition that affects about 1 in 30 people. It’s caused by a pile-up of skin cells that have replicated too rapidly (around a thousand times faster than normal), resulting in the characteristic silvery scale of the condition. Although there’s a strong genetic link, sufferers can make a number of changes to their diet that will help to alleviate the problem.
Beginning with food and drink to avoid, sufferers of psoriasis should limit their intake of sugary foods, as these can fuel the overgrowth of Candida – a yeast that is believed to play a major role in causing psoriasis. Sufferers must also cut down on their consumption of meat and alcohol – both of which can elevate the level of psoriasis-linked toxins in the blood.
As for what they should consume, people with psoriasis need a wide range of vegetables (but not fruit – which can fuel Candida growth) and they should drink plenty of water. Vegetables are a great source of fibre, which binds with toxins, while water is great at flushing toxins out of the body. One specific nutrient found to help people of psoriasis is Omega-3, which we can get from eating oily fish or flaxseed oil.
Why not try my delicious soup below, which may go some way towards alleviating psoriasis.
Barbara’s Pumpkin, Parsnip and Ginger Soup
500g Pumpkin (seeded & chopped)
3 Parsnips (chopped)
1 Onion (chopped)
2 Sticks of Celery (chopped)
1 Clove of Garlic
100g Fresh Root Ginger (chopped)
2 Yeast-free Stock Cubes
200ml Soya Cream
Fresh Ground Pepper
1 ½ Pints Water
10ml Flaxseed Oil
Boil the stock, garlic, pepper together and then add the vegetables and root ginger. Leave to simmer for 15 minutes. Add the cream and flaxseed oil and gently stir. Put in a blender and blend until smooth. (Serves 6)
