Eczema Diet Tips: What to Eat and Avoid

Eczema usually appears with other disorders like asthma and hay fever. The only common link between eczema and these conditions is that some irritants or allergens trigger them. 

According to one study, 33-63% of young children who already have eczema also have food allergies establishing the connection between food allergies and eczema. Hence it is essential to know the type of food to consume if you have a history of eczema. 

This article shares tips on controlling eczema with diet and what to follow if you have a history of allergies or eczema.

What To Eat?

Since eczema is an inflammatory condition, there is a general belief that eating anti-inflammatory food could help manage the situation. Following a nutritious diet might help maintain overall health and ease symptoms of eczema. Following are some examples of anti-inflammatory food.

1. Fish 

Consumption of fish may decrease the intensity of your symptoms, like inflammation. It is a natural source of Omega-3 fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory properties. You should also consider supplementing your diet with omega-3 fatty acids.

It is recommended that the daily consumption of 250 mg of Omega-3 fatty acids helps in managing inflammatory eczema symptoms. Some recommended fish high in Omega-3 fatty acids are salmon, herring, sardines, and tuna.

2. Food containing quercetin 

Quercetin is a flavonoid that comes from plants. This means that it can reduce inflammation and histamine levels in your body. It is also a strong antihistamine and has antioxidant properties.

Examples of fruits and vegetables high in quercetin are:

• Apples
• Blueberries
• Cherries
• Broccoli
• Spinach
• Kale

3. Probiotic food

Probiotics are groups of microorganisms that are alive and help your body in many ways by nourishing your gut microbes. It not only acts as a digestive aid, but research suggests it may also reduce inflammation.

Some examples of probiotic-rich food:

• Sourdough bread
• Miso soup
• Kefir
• Kombucha
• Sauerkraut

Read more– Probiotics and Prebiotics Diet

4. Flavonoids high food

Flavonoids are a group of natural substances that have anti-inflammatory properties and are found in the skin of various fruits and vegetables. Some examples are 

• Tomatoes
• Soybeans
• Berries 
• Red peppers 
• Tea

Eczema Elimination Diet Plan

What you eat may not cause eczema but can worsen it. People with food allergies and sensitivities may experience inflammatory symptoms after consuming certain types of food. If a person is not allergic to a particular food, it may occur between 6 to 24 hours after consumption.

The foods which may cause eczema symptoms are as follows.

1. Foods with a lot of sugar

When you eat sugar, your insulin level goes up, which may cause inflammation. To avoid inflammation, you should avoid foods like soda, cakes, energy drinks, and chocolate if you have a history of eczema.

2. Avoid eating nuts

When you eat nuts, your body releases T cells and immunoglobulin-E, which can cause inflammation. So, people with a history of eczema, asthma, and hay fever should avoid peanuts, cashews nuts, almonds, and walnuts.

3. High-saturated fat and trans-fat foods

Trans fat is found in processed, margarine, and fast food, while saturated fat is found in red meat, butter, and full-fat dairy products. These two types of fat may promote inflammation and worsen eczema symptoms.

4. Milk

Milk is a common allergen that can affect people with various conditions, like eczema, asthma, and hay fever. Milk contains proteins that may act as allergens to trigger these conditions. Since most babies and children drink milk, it is essential to test them for milk allergies if they have a history of eczema.

5. Citrus fruit

Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, grapefruit, and other similar fruits are known to cause allergic reactions in many people. Citrus fruits contain chemicals that may worsen eczema symptoms, so you should avoid such fruits.

What are other ways that changing your lifestyle can help?

The significant goals of therapy for eczema are to keep the skin moist and rebuild the skin barrier. It might even get better if you make changes to your diet & lifestyle that relieve your irritation, itching, and stress which can help you think more positively about your better lifestyle.

Some dietary supplements, like fish oil, vitamin E, and vitamin D, have positively affected eczema symptoms.

Read more – Best Eczema Ointments and Creams for Your Dry, and Itchy Skin

Conclusion 

While a person’s diet may not be an exact trigger for eczema, a proper diet can help manage and ease its symptoms. Making dietary changes and keeping track of symptoms may help a person to figure out whether these changes are helpful. Above mentioned eczema food diet plan for adults and children will improve your asthma symptoms and keep them under control. 

You may save more money by selecting alternative medicine advised by Truemed’s expert doctors and get free teleconsultation from our expert doctors once you order medicine from our online pharmacy – Truemeds, or download our Truemeds app. You can avail of branded and generic medications by uploading your prescription on Truemeds, saving up to 72% on your purchase, and getting free home delivery* pan India.

Disclaimer – The information given in this article is accurate to our best knowledge. Still, we recommend you consult your healthcare professional before taking any medication or dietary supplements mentioned in this article.

Frequently Asked Questions

References

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3970830/ 
• http://frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2021.578386/full
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6407021/ 
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3970830/