Are flakes that appear like dandruff making your hair appear dull? It could be dandruff or it could be something more serious related how you care for your body related to your diet. Here's how you can keep your mane healthy. Many of the same high calorie foods that can lead to weight gain and increase the risk for obesity, diabetes and heart disease are also inflammatory. There are several categories of inflammatory foods that can make your scalp conditions symptoms worse.
Alcohol
Excessive alcohol consumption makes your liver work overtime. It has to produce chemicals to metabolize the alcohol, which can lead to long-term inflammation if you drink heavily or regularly. Alcohol can also damage the good bacteria in your gut, which can lead to inflammation in your colon and intestines.
Dairy
Many dairy products tend to be high in fat, which can lead to inflammation. Products that contain cow’s milk also contain casein, a protein that some people have trouble digesting. People who are lactose intolerant don’t have enough of the digestive enzyme lactase. Chronic gastrointestinal irritation from these conditions can make inflammation worse. For some people, psoriasis symptoms improve when they cut dairy from their diet.
Foods containing refined carbohydrates
Refined carbohydrates are highly processed (think white bread, white rice, pasta, pastries and some breakfast cereals). They’ve been stripped of fiber and whole grains and tend to contain a lot of sugar, which can cause your blood sugar to spike. Refined carbohydrates also increase advanced glycation end products, which are substances in your blood that can lead to inflammation.
Foods with saturated fats and trans fats
Fats in red meat, cheese, fried food, margarine, fast food and many processed snacks are known to trigger inflammation in the body. These fats increase the amount of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in your blood, also called “bad cholesterol.” Studies suggest there may be a link between excess fat in the body and development of psoriasis and worsening of psoriasis symptoms.
Foods high in added sugar
Added sugars in soda, fruit juices, candy, baked goods and other sweets are different from natural sugars in food such as fruit. Our bodies produce insulin to process sugar, but too much added sugar forces our bodies to store that extra energy in fat cells and inflame the fat tissue. Foods with lots of added sugars can also lead to increased levels of inflammatory proteins called cytokines. Some studies suggest that artificial sweeteners such as aspartame may also lead to chronic inflammation.
Foods that contain gluten
Research suggests that people with psoriasis tend to have higher rates of celiac disease. In people with celiac disease, gluten (a protein in wheat and some other grains) triggers an autoimmune response that causes the body to attack tissues in the small intestine. People with celiac disease need to avoid gluten completely, though some people without the disease have found that reducing gluten in their diet lessens psoriasis flare-ups.
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