Reducing Sugar Intake May Help Eczema Symptoms
People who suffer from eczema should make every effort to reduce their sugar intake or completely eliminate it from their diet. If you’re prone to eczema, you should steer clear of foods that trigger inflammation such as red meat, refined breads, pastas and any beverages that contain sugar. Make sure your diet is rich in foods that help reduce inflammation such as fish, nuts, seeds, and avocadoes which contain high amounts of fatty acids that are highly beneficial to the skin’s health.
As bizarre as it may seem, studies show that the average person in the United States eats 153 pounds of sugar a year. That is about ½ cup per day. This is done in spite of the fact that there is mounting scientific evidence that proves too much sugar is bad for you. We simply do not have the mechanisms to digest the enormous amounts of sugar we are putting into our bodies. Nutritional experts advise people who eat a 2,000-calorie healthful diet to try to limit themselves to about 10 teaspoons of added sugars per day. In fact, the average American does not eat a healthful diet, but consumes 20 teaspoons of added sugars per day.
Refined sugar enters the bloodstream very rapidly, causing and contributing to a host of health problems including eczema. It aggravates many chronic diseases like pre-diabetes, heart and circulatory disorders, gastro-intestinal disturbances including irritable bowel syndrome, GURD as well as PMS. Excessive sugar intake has also been linked to sleeping disorders.
Nutrition is vital not only for caring for our skin and managing eczema, but it also affects skin development, right from the innermost layer, the dermis. The dermis consists mainly of elastin and collagen.
The regular use of refined sugar can create constant imbalances which is turn will adversely affect the normal function of the skin as well as the pancreas, liver and heart. Because the skin is the largest organ in the body, it is especially susceptible to sugar and will respond by developing irritations such as eczema. Sugar is sometimes consumed in larger amounts by people who feel stressed. One the “sugar high” is gone, additional stress and depression set it, both of which aggravate eczema symptoms.
Although eliminating sugar may seem difficult at first the eventual rewards are great for your body, mind, your skin and your taste buds. Once sugar is eliminated from the diet all foods start to taste better. Taste buds become more sensitive to the natural sweetness of foods. Soon sugar cravings will be reduced. You’ll feel better, look better and sleep better. Try eliminating sugar from your diet and see how quickly your eczema symptoms are under control.
Glossary:
Fatty acids: Substances that are found naturally in foods such as nuts and avocadoes which are beneficial to the skin.