Could intermittent fasting help with psoriasis? We dive into the research, benefits, and possible risks below.
You may have already tried adjusting your diet by eating or avoiding certain foods to reduce psoriasis flare-ups. But what about focusing on when you eat to improve your symptoms?
Intermittent fasting is a diet focused more on when you eat than what you eat. It has gained popularity as a means to lose weight and improve metabolism. However, there’s little evidence that fasting offers any concrete benefits for people with psoriasis, and the practice can do more harm than good.
Some dietary changes have been said to improve psoriasis symptoms, but there’s limited research.
In a 2017 U.S. national survey, people with psoriasis reported that anti-inflammatory foods such as vegetables and healthy oils led to improvements in their skin. They also reported that cutting down on sugar, alcohol, nightshade vegetables, and gluten helped their skin.
Along with sticking to your medical treatment, you may be considering changing your diet or lifestyle behaviors to help relieve symptoms.
If you’re curious about intermittent fasting, here’s a deeper look at the benefits and risks for people with psoriasis.
Research on intermittent fasting and psoriasis is limited. There are only a few small, observational studies as well as animal-based studies on the topic.
One
Another study that the same researchers conducted involved observing the effects of fasting among 37 patients with psoriatic arthritis. Study results showed that short-term fasting improved patients’ disease activity scores.
However, in a 2019 research review that looked at the effects of Ramadan fasting and other types of fasting on skin health, researchers found the results misleading in the suggested benefits that were identified.
Meanwhile, a 2018 review of research on nutritional strategies for psoriasis showed weight loss and a health-promoting lifestyle significantly reduced PASI scores among people with moderate to severe psoriasis.
Low calorie dietary plans and intermittent fasting have also been shown to reduce the severity of psoriasis and other conditions among people with obesity.
More research is needed to determine if intermittent fasting can improve psoriasis symptoms. But leading a health-promoting lifestyle and trying a low calorie diet, if necessary, may help.
There’s little evidence that intermittent fasting can improve psoriasis symptoms. In addition, regularly fasting can lead to some harmful habits and side effects.
Some of the potential side effects of fasting include:
- eating disorders and disordered eating, especially binge eating on non-fasting days
- dizziness, confusion, and lightheadedness when combining exercise with fasting
- severe hypoglycemia and other serious health issues for people taking diabetes medications
- obesity linked to skipping breakfast
- reduced energy levels
Research on dietary recommendations for people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis led the National Psoriasis Foundation to
Intermittent fasting may be the latest trending diet for weight loss. But there isn’t enough scientific evidence proving its effectiveness.
It also may pose a health risk to people with certain conditions, including:
- diabetes
- women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
- people with a history of eating disorders or disordered eating
More research needs to be done to bolster or dispel fasting’s impact on psoriasis.
Most studies on the health benefits of intermittent fasting are animal-based. There are only a few small-scale studies pointing to potential improvements in psoriasis symptoms. These are mainly connected to low calorie or short-term fasting diets.
Talk with your doctor or a nutritionist to learn more about how changes to your diet could help manage your psoriasis symptoms.