That's Fit

Life Fit Chat with That's Fit Life Fit Expert Laura Lewis brings conversation provoking tidbits to your table, served up with a touch of spice! Byte-sized information that pack some punch, brought to you every Wednesday and Thursday!

According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, "Psoriasis [pronounced sore-EYE-ah-sis] is a noncontagious, lifelong skin disease. According to the National Institutes of Health, as many as 7.5 million Americans have psoriasis. The most common form, plaque [plak] psoriasis, appears as raised, red patches or lesions covered with a silvery white buildup of dead skin cells, called scale." There are several forms of treatment for psoriasis, but making some important lifestyle changes my provide some significant relief.

1. Pile on the produce. An Italian study suggests that people who eat a diet rich in antioxidants founds in foods such as carrots, tomatoes, fresh fruits, and green vegetables were less likely to acquire psoriasis, or have flare-ups than those whose diets were lacking in these antioxidant-rich foods. As a matter of fact, participants of the study who ate three or more servings of carrots a week reduced their risk of psoriasis by as much as 40%. Participants who ate seven or more servings of tomatoes a week reduced their risk by an astounding 60 percent; and those who had two servings a day of fresh fruits reduced their risk by 50 percent. Prevention recommends eating between five and nine servings of fruits and veggies each day.
   
2. Cut the vices. It should come as no surprise that a fitness blog would suggest snuffing out the smoking and drinking habit, but did you know these popular vices also contribute to psoriasis? Research shows a higher occurrence of psoriasis in alcoholics, and smokers are twice as likely develop psoriasis than non-smokers.
   
3. Enough is enough. Take control of your food intake. Kelly Coates, the patient education manager for the National Psoriasis Foundation, says, "There seems to be a connection between psoriasis and obesity." Maintaining a healthy weight is essential for reducing the risks of psoriasis, as well as the frequency of flare ups for folks who have the disease.
   

While changing one's lifestyle is never simple, sometimes it is essential to live your fullest and most fit life. If you have psoriasis, I would love to hear how you cope and what has helped you get relief.