Hippocrates, the father of medicine, once made a bold statement: “All disease begins in the gut”. And you know what? Perhaps Hippocrates’ claim was a bit extreme, but it turns out he was not very misguided either. Countless studies have shown that our microbiome (our friendly bacteria colonies) plays a massive role in preventing diseases, especially inflammatory ones like Psoriasis.

And while the microbiome is a topic worth diving deep into, we won’t go down that rabbit hole today. But instead, we’re going to focus on Psoriasis. So, in today’s article, you’re going to learn all you need to know about Psoriasis: What it is, what causes it, and how to treat it.

What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease and inflammatory skin condition that occasionally affects the joints, provoking redness, scaling, pain, and swelling. Although it’s not a life-threatening condition, Psoriasis can be uncomfortable for many reasons ranging from irritability due to itching and pain to mental health-related issues.

Although Psoriasis may manifest itself with various intensities throughout life, it is not an infectious disease. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, 7.5 million Americans have Psoriasis.

In other words, 2 to 3 percent of the total population suffers from this autoimmune disease, which is quite common worldwide, regardless of sex, ethnicity, and age. However, Psoriasis is more prevalent among adult women. And nearly 30 percent of the people who suffer from Psoriasis can develop Psoriatic arthritis, thus experiencing arthritis symptoms due to joint inflammation. 

Symptoms of Psoriasis

There’s no doubt that Psoriasis has a great impact both on physical and emotional health. On the one hand, Psoriasis causes painful skin lesions in the form of dandruff and patches of all shapes and sizes, especially on the elbows, knees, scalp, back, and buttocks.

On the other hand, Psoriasis can cause several psychological negative effects, like insecurities, embarrassment, guilt, shame, helplessness, and poor self-esteem. These problems can derive into other issues, such as sexual dysfunction, stress, anxiety, depression, and sometimes even suicide.

So, Psoriasis is as serious as any other disease. And, today’s your lucky day. If you have Psoriasis or know someone who’s going through this, I’m here to tell you that there’s hope! So, let’s see what you can do to treat Psoriasis effectively.

What causes Psoriasis?

Naturally, the first step to treat any disease is looking at the root cause. While many healthcare professionals choose to treat the symptoms, if we don’t address the root cause, we’ll continue to struggle with the disease for life.

So, instead of treating the symptoms, find real solutions by addressing the problem. When we look at the causes of Psoriasis, we cannot neglect that its incidence has increased over time. A recent study published by The Journal of Dermatology reported that the prevalence of Psoriasis raised from 4·8% in 1980 to 11·4% in 2008. And while Psoriasis’ predisposition is linked to certain genes, other factors (especially now in the age of ultra-processed foods) can influence the development of Psoriasis.

External factors that influence Psoriasis

Among lifestyle habits and other environmental causes, some of the most common factors that have a strong influence on the appearance and development of Psoriasis are:

• Alcohol and Tobacco
• Infections
• Emotional stress
• A cold and dry climate
• Obesity

However, the leading external factor (inflammation) causing this unprecedented modern spike of Psoriasis seems to be on our plate, specifically unhealthy food.

The main culprit 

Researchers have long been analyzing why those painful, itchy, and irritating patches appear on our skin. A recent study published in the Journal of Dermatology and Therapy revealed that the root cause of psoriasis is inflammation.

And to finally wave Psoriasis goodbye for good, we should address WHY our bodies are inflamed in the first place, right? While there are various reasons why inflammation occurs, it all seems to point out to our diet. So, Hippocrates wasn’t wrong after all…

How to improve or eliminate Psoriasis symptoms

Now that we know that improving our diet may be the best option to ameliorate or even eliminate Psoriasis symptoms, reduce inflammation, and hopefully not develop psoriatic arthritis over time, we’ve hit the nail. But what can we eat?

I’m sorry to break it to you. But, those delicious donuts and cheesy pizza may be causing you all this drama. Still, although in many cases ultra-processed foods seem to be the main reason causing inflammation, for some people, even “healthy” food may be causing it.

You’re probably confused by now. But, bear with me. Ultra-processed foods, such as: packaged food rich in refined sugars, vegetable oils, jam-packed with salt, hydrogenated fats, and other unwanted chemicals like preservatives, pesticides, and artificial colors cause inflammation in most cases.

Still, in some cases, even if you eat a healthy and nutritious diet, you may still be eating something triggering inflammation. So, how can you know whether your diet is working for you or against you?

Try The Autoimmune Protocol (AIP)

AIP stands for Autoimmune Protocol, and it has recently become popular for its effectiveness in treating autoimmune diseases. Although AIP is not a definite cure, it is an effective solution for autoimmune diseases like Psoriasis. 

The autoimmune protocol is a diet that helps you identify foods that don’t agree with your body. This protocol can help you discover allergies, intolerances, and sensitivities, and it is more effective than most laboratory tests.

AIP consists of two parts. First, an elimination diet where you eliminate all potential food triggers during an initial period. When the elimination period is over, you then re-introduce these foods again, one by one. This way, you’ll be able to discover which foods cause adverse reactions.

The elimination period helps heal the mucous barrier of the intestine and “resets” your body. During this period, you’ll have to avoid high FODMAP foods: Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols.  Basically, stay away from sugars and carbohydrates that affect the small intestine and cause inflammation.

So if your main priority is your health and wellness, and you want to heal your Psoriasis or any other autoimmune disease, you can DOWNLOAD MY FREE E-BOOK, where I’ll walk through diet and lifestyle changes, one by one, to heal from the inside out.