Though the exact cause of eczema is still not known but eczema can be managed effectively by making a few changes in your diet. The elimination diet for eczema can do wonders to your skin condition and let you lead a healthy life. There are few products that need to be cut out completely from your daily regime. Below listed products act as eczema triggers:
What Foods Trigger Eczema Flare-ups?
Dairy Products: It’s almost difficult to eliminate all the dairy products completely from your diet. These products may damage the intestinal lining creating few tiny holes in the digestive tract that allows the food particles to enter the bloodstream and further results in various allergic reactions and food sensitivities. The main reason behind the exclusion is that these dairy products are difficult to digest and are the food for E.coli, which could contribute to the development of gut dysbiosis. Also, milk stimulates the insulin production that can cause skin inflammation. Various products included are:
- Cow’s milk
- Yogurt
- Ice cream
- Cheese
- Desserts
- Goat’s milk
- Butter and more
Soy and Soy Products: Soy is considered a bad food for the eczema sufferers as it is directly linked to your skin condition. This is to be noted that most of the processed foods have soy derivatives like soy lecithin so you need to be cautious and alert while buying anything and always have a look at the ingredients once. Check the detailed list of ingredients or avoid the processed food altogether to get better results. Food rich in soy includes:
- Chocolate
- Breakfast cereals
- Meat products
- Soy sauce
- Tamari
- Shoyu
- Natto
- Misso
- Tofu
- Soy flour
- Bakery items and more
You can also check out elimination diet post by Itchy Little World blog post here.
Avoid Soy foods: Try to avoid the products rich in soy and please ensure to see the ingredients of any products you wish to buy from the market to avoid eczema flare-ups.
Eggs Allergies: Eggs can cause high histamine levels in the body that can aggravate eczema symptoms. The body releases IgE antibodies that trigger the production of histamine in cells. The proteins found in egg whites act as carrier molecules for the bacterial proteins to cross the gut barrier that further stimulates the immune system. It can trigger an autoimmune attack and worsen symptoms like eczema.
See your physician: If you find that after the consumption of eggs your eczema symptoms worsen then see your doctor for the diagnosis. Also, try to eliminate the eggs from your diet after the doctor’s consultation.
Nightshade Plants: Tomatoes are the rich sources of natural MSG, amines, and salicylates. These are the three worst chemicals that can trigger eczema. Tomatoes are categorized under nightshade plants and have substances called saponins, that increase intestinal permeability. Saponins act as a stimulating factor in the immune system that is counterproductive in autoimmune disease.
Eliminate few foods: Try to eliminate the few nightshade plants from your diet after the doctor’s consultation.
Meats: Ham, bacon, and sausages are high in preservatives, saturated fats that can worsen eczema itch. These are high in acidic acid and once if these meats are digested they can contribute to the allergic reactions like eczema.
Spices:There is no doubt in it that spices can enhance the flavor of meals. Various spices like cloves, peppers, coriander, garlic, and cinnamon can be a trigger to the allergic reactions.
Avoid spicy foods: If you are the one dealing with eczema then try to eliminate the spices from your diet.
Artificial Food Additives to Avoid
Artificial Food Additives: These artificial food additives are added to the food to enhance the flavor, color, and taste as well. As these foods are frozen, heated and even preserved so it can be noticed that few amounts of chemicals can be released causing chaos in your body functions when you ingest them. This can give rise to various allergic reactions and can worsen the eczema symptoms. Food additives include:
- Preservatives: ascorbic acid, calcium sorbate, and sodium nitrite.
- Color additives: fruit and vegetable juices, yellow 5, and beta-carotene.
- Flavors and spices: strawberry, vanilla, chocolate and more
- Flavor enhancers: MSG and yeast.
- Emulsifiers: soy lecithin, mono, and diglycerides.
What Foods Make Eczema Worse?
1. Junk Foods
These days junk foods are one of the most common food that everybody loves to eat. It is high in saturated fats, processed ingredients and salt as well that harms your skin terribly. Most of the fast food items are deep fried in oils that make it difficult to digest by your body. It may aggravate the skin condition due to a high content of omega-6 fatty acids.
What to do: Try to drink an ample amount of water and eat fruits to fill up your tummy in a healthier way.
2. Nuts
Nuts are an excellent source of healthy fats, proteins, and fibers. Most of them are packed with a good amount of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, vitamin E and magnesium. But few nuts are high in omega 6 fatty acids that act as a basic cause for the skin inflammation and be a trigger to eczema flare-ups and other skin conditions. Few nuts high in omega 6 are:
- Pine nuts
- Peanuts
- Walnuts
- Brazil nuts
- Pecans and more
3. Alcohol
Alcohols possess high sugar content that can aggravate the blood sugar level in your body and may act as one of the main causes of dehydration and depleting collagen. The dehydration in your body prevents your skin from retaining moisture and thus, having dry, cracked skin.
4. Gluten
A protein found in whole grains like wheat, oats, barley, and kamut. It is also one of the main ingredients in many sauces, processed meats, and condiments. Some people find it difficult to digest gluten and it affects your gut primarily. Avoid having gluten and switch to gluten-free foods to get rid of eczema symptoms. Foods that have gluten include:
- Rye
- Oats
- Barley
- Bread
- Pasta
- Wheat Bran
- Semolina
- Seasonings
- Crackers
- Spice mixing
Making few changes in your diet and monitoring the results can definitely help you determine the better results after eliminating any food triggers eczema . If an individual is able to eliminate any large group of food by itself then we do recommend a visit to your doctor and then discuss each and every dietary change. Few changes in your diet can help you manage your skin condition in a proper way.
Also Read:
- Top 8 Lunchbox Foods To Avoid If You Have Eczema
- Is There any Connection Between Food Allergies and Eczema?
- Probiotics study on Food Allergies
- Best 5 Eczema Smoothie Recipes to Provide Skin Relief
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