Psoriasis Support Group

OK - started a wheat-free diet yesterday and already my psoriasis looks less red... and doesn't itch at all.... hope this works!

When you say you started a wheat free diet, do you mean you bega a gluten free diet, meaning no spelt bread flour breads or products. Or one that is totally gluten free. As spelt flour is not the regular type of wheat flour, but is a flour made out of spelt grass that used to be what they did call wheat. But is not the same as wheat grass.

Most gluten free flours are made from a mixture of different types of flours that are not made from grasses as I understand it.

I am allergic to wheat but I can eat spelt bread and all spelt products as I do not have what they call celiac .desease. Their having to eat gluten free products only.

Am interested in knowing what your doing exactly, and if it does work.

You are correct - although I don't think everyone is sensitive to all the gluten products. I've read that some can tolerate oats and quinoa (I haven't done research on the others)

I read a defination of gluten: "Gluten is a protein found in the following grains: wheat, oats, rye, barley, spelt, kamut, couscous, amaranth, teff, quinoa and triticale"

Possible conditions if sensitive to gluten:

Possible Symptoms and Conditions of Gluten Sensitivity:

Craving for wheat or inability to stop eating wheat
Allergies, asthma
Sinus congestion, post-nasal drip
Joint and muscle aches
Diarrhea and/or constipation
Gas, bloating, abdominal pain
Psoriasis, eczema or unexplained rash
Depression, hyperactivity or mood-swings
Unexplained fatigue
Frequent canker sores
Iron-deficiency anemia
Short stature
Ear-aches
Headaches
Tend to overdrink alcohol
Anxiety
Chronic Fatigue

The list goes beyond this even.

What am I doing now? I am making it real easy. Brown and white jasmine rice. Eggs and dairy ok. Gluten-free corn tortillas. Lots of beans and some veggies. Gluten-free bacon. No beer. Basically I am going to be avoiding anything with wheat/rye/barley. My psoriasis is definately improving. I also had bumps on my arms since I was a child - and these are gone already. I am going to attempt potato flour breads, rice flour breads (homemade if I can find the time!)

I've done alot of research on food allergies and psoriasis, addictions and anxiety (as I have all) which led me to try this. (I am also short - only 5')

I thought about this fact this morning - the one topical tratment that had helped was a steriod. Steriods are used to treat allergies.

Have your psoriasis improved since you have gone gluten-free? If not - maybe you should try some of the other gluten-containing products. Or dairy.

I am very excited about this! My alcohol cravings have also pretty much gone away! I am hoping to even get off of my anxiety medicine (zoloft!)


Sorry - I know I am rembling on but I'm at work.

Wow that was informative thank you.I have never gone absolutely gluten free. I did cut out beer a year ago when I decided to drop from my semi pro football weight of 285 to my present weight of 233.I also cut out white breads,rice and potato's.My Psoriasis did change a little but not in a major way.I have been debating going to a vegetarian menu for a trial period.now that I do not need 300 grams of protein a day.

Update.... cheated over the weekend because we were out of town and had a hoagie (lots of white bread made with flour) and my psoriasis got red and itchy. Had to cheat again this morning because I needed to grab a quick breakfast and had an egg & cheese bisquit from McD's. The eating out is the worst. I won't have to do that for a while now - so back to my gluten-psoriasis-test!

Praying it is the answer...! I'd really like to hear others... I saw a post under Is This Bull about someone cutting out pasta, rice, potatoes, pork, etc - and that seemed to work for them. I'd love to hear more!

Good Days to Ya! :)

Hi folks. I don't make it over to this board often, however, I have been on a gluten free diet for over a year now (celiac disease, yes) and it has dramatically improved my Psoriasis.

Just visited the rheumy today, and he could only find one little "spot" on my leg, after years a huge plaques on my legs, in my scalp, elbows, etc. So, perhaps the gluten free has helped with this as well.

Of course, I haven't had a 'major stress indicator' lately, either, so that should be mentioned as well.

Living near a beach, I do plan to go swimming in the Gulf, as the sun and the salt water always help me to feel better. It won't be long until it is warm enough again, thank goodness.

I have Celiac-Sprue Disease so I live on a Gluten-Free Diet and I have a very severe case of Psoriasis. Apparently eating gluten-free hasn't helped me.

Babyblue... it could be that you are allergic to something else. Dairy, eggs, corn, even red meat and pork I've heard can cause psoriasis to flare. Citric fruits like tomatoes and oranges can also be a cause. If one is up to the challenge, I think it would be interesting to try the elimination diet to see if the psoriasis reacts to the removal of any one food. I'm determined to try everything diet-related. I don't want to have to take medication! The results I am already seeing with the eliminating gluten from my diet have trully encouraged me. I cheated a few times, and had a bad day with my psoriasis. As soon as I get back on track I see improvements.

After years of experiment with diet as a solution to my psoriasis, I had settled into a comfortable diet containing large amounts of fruits and vegetables, and excluding all red meats. My first exposure to a holistic/dietary approach was through Dr. Pagano's book "Healing Psoriasis: the Natural Alternative". The book was very informative, but overwhelming, with large lists of tangents that could potentially be related to psoriasis. I made some basic changes: no red meat, nightshades, etc. and noticed an almost immediate improvement in my condition, although there were still small plaques on my elbows and knees. A recent reaction to an antibiotic has sent me back to the drawing board, since I am now covered from head to toe in psoriasis and my old diet didn't seem to be making any changes. After only three days of going gluten free, at the suggestion of my chiropractor, ALL of the lesions are light pink and thinning! I am definitely pursuing this, and will post continued results as time goes by. Thanks for your post, Renee.

I think that the advice my father's  physician gave him after he had heart surgery holds true for psoriasis sufferers as well. My dad was very confused by all of the various dietary restrictions and was searching for a simple answer. The doctor's advice; If you put some type of food or drink in your mouth and find that it tastes good, spit it out!