When you're in the middle of an eczema flare-up, it may seem like there couldn't possibly be anything good about the painful redness and itching. There's almost always a silver lining, however. When it comes to eczema, the upside may be that the changes you make to control your flare-ups could lead to you eating a healthier diet.
As many as 30 percent of people who have atopic dermatitis, another name for eczema, also have food allergies. Many more people who don't have food allergies still report that certain foods trigger their eczema symptoms. For most people, dairy foods and simple carbohydrates such as those found in processed foods can cause inflammation. Reducing those foods in your diet may help improve your eczema.
Eliminating these foods from your diet can also improve other areas of your health. Processed foods are associated with a wide range of health risks, including:
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Some types of cancer
- Cardiovascular disease
- Coronary artery disease
- Cerebrovascular disease
- Death from all causes
On the other hand, foods that help your body fight oxidative stress, which can trigger inflammation, also tend to be healthier foods. In addition to cutting out highly processed foods, here are some more guidelines for eating an anti-inflammatory diet:
Eat minimally processed or unprocessed plants. Eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, and beans will provide you with lots of anti-inflammatory nutrients. Make sure you eat foods that are a variety of colors to get the most antioxidants, which help your body fight oxidative stress.
Get lots of omega-3 fatty acids. These healthy fats may help regulate your body's inflammatory process and reduce pain related to inflammation. You can get them in fatty fish such as tuna and salmon, as well as plant-based sources such as walnuts, flaxseed, and soy.
Eat less red meat. In addition to being pro-inflammatory, red meat has been associated with an increased risk of:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease
- Cancer
- Death from all causes
These are dietary changes that will benefit almost everyone. However, without the irritation of eczema, you may not have been motivated enough to implement them. Although you'll probably never be glad to have eczema, the healthy diet you eat to control it may lead to a lower risk of developing a lot of other diseases.
