Inside Out - Dealing with eczema with the right diet
Apr 10, 2017 5:06pm
Inside Out - Dealing with eczema with the right diet
There is no denying that to tackle any skin issue, it lies not on the quality of the products we use, but what we eat actually accounts for majority of it. The transformation I saw in my daughter’s skin is a testament to that.
It took time for me to gauge what was working and what was not. Moreover, our body is in a constant state of change. What might work one day might not be suitable after some time. In Chloe’s case, as she grew older, her body did get stronger and was able to include a variety of food items. But I kept on monitoring her intake.
In your research, perhaps you have come across information relating to gut health and eczema. I am no gut expert, however, I can attest that eating the right food, ensuring healthy gut does have huge impact in my baby's skin. Subsequent list below is based on my personal experience.
WHAT TO ELIMINATE
Processed food
If there is one thing we can all do without it’s processed food. Of any kind. If you think it’s tough to control ourselves from indulging. Imagine taking away cookies, chocolates and chips from a child. Tough love – but it was necessary. When you are dealing with sensitive skin, the last things we need are processed ingredients, fillers, sugar, refined oils, etc.
I remember when my baby was close to 1 year old, she had already been introduced to solid foods. I had bought snacks for her to eat in between meals/milk. I ensured that the snack was organic, gluten free, dairy free, egg free, soy free and a host of other “free”. Then I noticed that every evening she would have a flare up. At first I thought, perhaps she had gone outside, and dust had caused the reaction. So I ensured that she showered after she went outside. However the symptom persisted, and it was strange that it had occurred at almost similar times. One day, I began to think about her activities during that time frame, and noticed that one thing lies in common – that was the snacks given at the similar time frame. With my new suspicion, I stopped the snack, and true enough, the evening flare up stopped too.
Gluten
Next thing to go is gluten, a protein found in grains such as wheat, rye, and barley. Gluten can be an irritant for the digestive system. Removing these irritants gives great relief and allows for smooth digestion. Of course, I’m not saying that everyone is affected by Gluten. You need to check if you do by process of elimination.
Soya, Dairy & Nuts
These are common triggers that can cause a flare up. Dairy can be tough to digest for many. As for nuts, although there are some that can be tolerated but I would recommend that you keep a food diary to record the way your body reacts to the different nuts.
Many people who are allergic to dairy are actually also allergic to Soy. Many babies who have atopic dermatitis, develops nuts allergy and asthma when they grow older. Hence, I try to be careful and not introduce nuts to my baby at too young an age.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a group of vegetables that contain substances that can cause severe inflammation in the digestive system. Yes, vegetables are on the avoid list. For example, eggplants are a part of the Nightshades family of vegetables. Tomatoes and potatoes, too. They are common in mainstream diets and it’s a good idea to supervise how much you consume these vegetables.
Other NOT so common list:
My baby had a long list of other foods that she was reacting to. The only way you would know is to document every single item that is being consumed, and the best way to know if by preparing every single food yourself that way you have total control of it.
Her list includes: Chicken and eggs, dairy and of course that includes cheeses, yeast related products, most type of sugar, corn, some vegetables and fruits such as broccoli and cauliflower (although she did outgrow it), and the list actually goes on.
WHAT TO INCLUDE
Probiotics
The friendly good bacteria that do a great job in keeping our gut clean should be included in your list. A clean gut will fight toxins, improve the immune system and most importantly, make you feel good again. Regularly including fermented food in your diet will help as well.
Vegetables
Ensure that you are consuming enough and a variety of greens and vegetable to aid digestion.
The ultimate goal is to consume as whole and fresh as possible, and as less processed as possible!
WHERE TO START
Making changes to our diet can be a daunting task especially if it is being done to improve a condition such as eczema. What makes eczema a complex challenge is that no single root cause has been determined. On top of that, everybody has a different physical constitution. With this in mind, there are no hard and fast rules in treating eczema naturally.
We have to take the steps to understand the way our bodies function and what we can do to make it work smoothly.
If you are serious in pursuing this endeavor, I would highly recommend keep a food diary or a food log. Record everything you have eaten and observe how your body or skin reacts to it. If keeping track of everything is tough at this point, you could start with eliminating one item from the list and noticing how your body responds. 3-4 weeks will give you a fair assessment of how suitable it is for you.
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Although dealing with eczema comes with its own set of challenges, I have learnt and am still learning from this experience. It has inspired me to live a healthier lifestyle and to be mindful of what I put in to my body. Of course, seeing the benefits to Chloe keeps me motivated to continue uncovering other healthy and gentle ways to manage eczema.
I hope you find the guidelines helpful and would love to hear your stories. Have you / Are you dealing with eczema? What natural tips would recommend? Is there any specific dietary item that triggers inflammation for you?
Please feel free to comment below. Your feedback, thoughts, and inputs will definitely enrich others who are also on this journey.
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