Q&A Spotlight on Psoriasis and Diet
Do hormonal changes, such as childbirth or menopause have a negative impact on psoriasis?
Hormonal changes do have impact on psoriasis. It is well known that psoriasis often improves during pregnancy and flares postpartum. During menopause estrogen levels drop. This may cause psoriasis flares. It would be helpful to discuss these life changes with your dermatologist to see if this will impact treatment decisions.
Was Sandra referring to cooked or raw or supplements of Garlic and Onion compounds that help the gut with prebiotics?
Raw garlic and onions contain a small amount of a prebiotic called fructo-oligosaccharide, or FOS. Garlic extracts are processed in different ways. Depending on the processing, the FOS prebiotic content may be reduced. Garlic extracts are not required to list the prebiotic content on the label. One would have to contact the company to find out if the garlic extract product contained the prebiotic FOS.
Who are the leaders in quality Probiotic supplements and how many billions of microbes are really needed/beneficial per day for Psoriasis patients?
There are many quality probiotic supplements in Canada. Check out the “probiotics” listing on Health Canada’s Natural Health Product Directorate. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/natural-non-prescription/applications-submissions/product-licensing/licensed-natural-health-products-database.html
The dose or amount of probiotics listed as CFU’s (colony forming units) varies depending on the dose that is required to obtain a specific health effect for the specific strain(s) of probiotics. Companies will support this with clinical trials on the specific strains, which also includes the dose.
Quality probiotic labels will include: the dose, quantity of CFU’s, specific strains, expiry date and storage needs.
Probiotic research continues in the area of psoriasis, so stay tuned for updates on specific probiotic strains and brands.
Hi, is drinking kombucha (fermented tea) a good way to consume probiotics?
Kombucha is a tasty fermented beverage. Fermented foods contain various bacteria, though we can not call kombucha a source of probiotics unless there were specific known probiotics added to the beverage. Probiotics are defined as “Live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.” This definition is important, because the kombucha label would need to indicate that the bacteria is alive, the dose of CFU’s would need to be listed, and research would need to be done to show health benefits for the particular product at that dose of specific bacteria.
What is your opinion on varied fasting? i.e. missing a breakfast, lunch or dinner once a week.
I suggest individuals discuss intermittent with their Physicians. Depending on health conditions and medications intermittent fasting may be harmful. As a general rule, I suggest people spread their intake out through the day in a balanced approach. Years ago, intermittent fasting was the routine, as individuals typically ate an early Dinner (5 or 6 pm), and then did not eat until Breakfast the following morning. With present routines people often eat Dinner and snack throughout the evening late into the night. Proper timing of meals and snacks helps to keep the body optimally energized.
Psoriasis and Diet Webinar
This webinar can be viewed below.
Presented by Dermatologist, Dr. Irina Turchin, MD, FRCPC, Brunswick Dermatology Center, Fredericton, NB and Sandra Saville, Registered Dietitian, Saville Nutrition Consulting.
The information in this webinar series is general information only. The opinions expressed in this series are those of the speakers and reflect personal clinical experience and perspectives. Any personal questions and concerns, including the risks and benefits of any diet or psoriasis treatment for you, should be discussed with your doctor or dermatologist. Before starting a new diet or before making any changes to your treatment plan, talk to you doctor or dermatologist to determine what is best for your individual situation.