Healthy Eating is an Effective Eczema Treatment

An important aspect to any eczema treatment is a healthy diet. It has been proven that some common foods can trigger an eczema flare-up. Some of the most common are peanuts, eggs, nuts, milk, soy and wheat.  In fact, it is true that almost any food can trigger a reaction. This is why it is important for you to identify which foods are affecting you.

Over the years there have been many discussions about whether food has any role to play in causing eczema and if healthy eating helps in its treatment. One recent theory is that the underlying causes of eczema in general are food intolerances, nutritional deficiencies, poor digestion and imbalanced micro flora in the gut. If this is true, then it becomes even more important that the issue of a healthy diet be addressed as part of an effective eczema treatment.

A discussion of foods to avoid in your diet is important, but it is also necessary to know which foods need to be included as part of a healthy eating regimen. Since poor digestive function has been suggested as a possible cause, it is important to look for foods that can help improve functioning of the digestive system and overall health. Here are some of the more important things to include in your diet:

• Unrefined Carbohydrates such as brown rice, bran flakes, whole-meal bread, whole-wheat pasta, potatoes, porridge oats and bananas are important to help sustain energy and are excellent sources of fiber. Fiber helps the digestive system in the process of waste elimination.
• Fruits and Vegetables need to be a significant part of a healthy diet, including plenty of green, leafy vegetables. Fruit and vegetables are loaded with vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants which are important for healthy skin and to strengthen the immune system. You might want to consider buying organically grown produce to avoid potentially harmful insecticides and herbicides which could trigger your eczema.
• Sufficient Protein in the diet is necessary to maintain and repair tissues, and strengthen your immune system. Good sources of protein are meat, fish, eggs, nuts, soy, beans, seeds and dairy products.
• Essential Fatty Acids (Omega 3 and 6 oils) have been found helpful in improving eczema and other skin conditions. This is because in your body they make hormone-like substances called prostaglandins. These prostaglandins regulate inflammation and swelling as well as improve digestion and maintain healthy skin. You can find essential fatty acids in oily fish such as mackerel, tuna, salmon and herring. Other sources are fresh seeds such as pumpkin and sunflower, flaxseed oil and walnuts.
• Probiotics contain live bacteria which are believed to be healthy for the digestive system. Probiotics increase the number of friendly bacteria in the intestines and are thought to reduce allergic reactions by improving digestion. Overuse of antibiotics, exposure to pollution, poor diet and stress are some factors which reduce the level of beneficial bacteria. If you have poor gut micro flora, you may be prone to symptoms such as diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, yeast infections and constipation.  Several studies have also found that probiotics are effective in treating atopic dermatitis. Many yogurt products have probiotics added to them. This can be a good way of taking them unless you are allergic to milk products. If this is the case, you can take probiotics in supplement form. Some foods contain natural probiotics. These are fermented foods such as miso, tempeh and sauerkraut.

You have probably noticed that some of the “good” foods mentioned such as milk, eggs and wheat are also potential triggers to an eczema flare-up. If these foods or others are the cause of your problems, it is important to avoid them and find alternatives that work for you.

It is important to eat healthy as part of your eczema treatment. By modifying your diet to include more healthy foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, and foods rich in the omega oils, you will see that healthy eating can be an effective aid in your eczema treatment.

Related posts:

1. Five Natural Remedies To Treat Eczema
2. Eczema Treatment Begins By Knowing What Caused It
3. Natural Treatment for Eczema
4. Are Alternative Eczema Treatments Really Effective?
5. Supplements Are A Useful Eczema Treatment