According to a study, the Western diet isn’t just bad for your waistline. Study findings revealed that following a diet high in fatty, sugary foods may cause inflammatory skin diseases like psoriasis.

The study was conducted by researchers from the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) and published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. It suggests that dietary components, instead of obesity itself, may cause skin inflammation and psoriasis in people following a Western diet.

Poor diet and psoriasis

According to earlier studies, obesity is a risk factor for the development or worsening of psoriasis. The Western diet (also called the Standard American diet), characterized by high intake of saturated fats and sucrose and low intake of fiber, has been associated with the prevalence of obesity worldwide.

Sam T. Hwang, professor and chair of dermatology at UC Davis and senior author on the study, said short-term exposure to [the] Western diet can induce psoriasis before significant body weight gain.

Psoriasis is a common and chronic skin disease that causes skin cells to form scales and red patches that are itchy and sometimes painful.

Inflammation and redness around the scales are fairly common manifestations of psoriasis. Typical psoriatic scales are whitish-silver and form in thick, red patches. Sometimes, these patches can cause discomfort as they crack and bleed.

For their study, researchers used a mouse model. Hwang and his colleagues discovered that a similar diet to the Western diet could induce observable skin inflammation in the animal subjects.

After only four weeks, the mice following the Western diet had significantly increased ear swelling and visible dermatitis compared to mice fed a controlled diet and those on a high-fat diet alone.

Zhenrui Shi, visiting assistant researcher at UC Davis Department of Dermatology and lead author of the study, added that following an unhealthy eating plan like the Western diet affects both your waistline and your skin immunity.

The Western diet and bile acids

The study detailed the mechanisms of how inflammation happens after adhering to a Western diet. The researchers identified bile acids as key signaling molecules in the regulation of skin immunity.

Bile acids are produced in the liver from cholesterol and metabolized in the intestine by gut microbiota. The acids have an important role in dietary lipid absorption and cholesterol balance in the blood.

Results revealed that cholestyramine, a drug that lowers cholesterol levels by binding to bile acids in the intestine, helps reduce skin inflammation risk. Additionally, bile acids mediate the development of psoriasis.

The study also reported that the binding of cholestyramine to bile acids in the gut and its subsequent release through the stool can help reduce skin inflammation.

The research team concluded that continued study can help shed light on the mechanism behind diet-induced skin inflammation and the interaction between metabolism, microbes and immunity.

Tips to improve your eating habits

The typical Western diet includes foods that are bad for your health, like sugary cereals and burgers, along with other heavily processed foods.

Aside from skin inflammation and psoriasis, the Western diet is also associated with other negative side effects like chronic inflammation, constipation, greater risk of heart disease and other diseases, poor bone and digestive health and weight gain.

Thankfully, it’s never too late to change your dietary habits. Here are some tips to make your diet healthier:

• Savor each bite and eat mindfully. This may help reduce the number of calories you consume during meals.
• Eat whole-grain bread instead of refined grain bread. Whole-grain bread offers many benefits, like reduced risk of cancer, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.
• Make a list before you go grocery shopping. This helps prevent impulse buys like chocolates and chips.
• Eat protein-rich eggs for breakfast.
• Start meals with a salad, which can help reduce your calorie intake and promote healthy weight loss.
• When cooking meat and fish, try baking and roasting instead of grilling and frying.
• Try at least one healthy recipe every week. This helps change up your food and nutrient intake. Alternatively, you can try to make a healthier version of a favorite recipe by using new ingredients and adding flavorful herbs and spices.
• Craving French fries? Eat a healthier alternative like baked potatoes or popcorn instead.
• Consume Greek yogurt, a superfood full of protein. It can also help you feel full longer.
• Eat fresh fruit instead of drinking store-bought fruit juices that often contain added sugars.

Eat more whole foods like fresh fruits and vegetables and limit your consumption of fatty, sugary foods to lower your risk of skin inflammation and psoriasis linked to an unhealthy Western diet.

Sources:

Newswise.com

Healthline.com 1

EatThis.com

Healthline.com 2