Diet: Foods To Eat For Rosacea
As with many skin conditions, eating the right foods can go a long way to reducing the severity of rosacea symptoms.
The dietary changes which work for one person may not work for another.
People can respond differently to changes in their diet and the following list of foods to eat for rosacea is not definitive.
We advise those interested in finding the right foods to eat for rosacea to modify their diet in stages, perhaps choosing one or two food types to add at a time. This is essential if you wish to identity specific foods which have the greatest impact on your rosacea.
By following a structured approach when changing your diet you will have a better idea as to which foods have had the greatest impact on reducing the symptoms of rosacea.
Trialling a food item for a week or longer whilst keeping a diary of any changes will help monitor the effectiveness of your rosacea diet. A photo diary may be a quicker and more effective way of recording your findings. Before and after shots of your rosacea following successful dietary changes should give further motivation to keep with your new rosacea diet.
Foods To Eat For Rosacea
- Fruit and vegetables
- Lean white meats
- Whole grain foods including whole grain bread and rice
- Foods high in omega-three fatty acids. These include oily fish such as tuna, salmon and mackerel
Rosacea - Foods To Avoid
- Caffeine based drinks and foods including coffee, tea and chocolate
- Red meats (eg beef and lamb)
- Products with refined flour including pasta and white bread
- Dairy products (eg milk, cheese)
- Alcohol
- Spicy Foods
Quite often it is the foods we avoid which bring about the best results. When people avoid certain foods (and drink) it may be best for them to substitute these with something else. For example, if you forgo red meat from your diet try eating lean white meats like chicken and turkey instead.
If you cut caffeine from your diet, coffee could be substituted for herbal teas like chamomile and echinacea which do not contain caffeine and may bring on extra health benefits (chamomile tea is known for it calming effect, and echinacea tea for its ability to help the immune system ). Chocolate could be substituted for honey, oat, nut and seed snacks.
By eating more clean, not only will you stand a better chance of reducing rosacea symptoms, general health will also improve.
Other lifestyle changes may also help.
Avoid Possible Rosacea Triggers
- Sun exposure
- Hot or cold weather
- Mental and emotional stress
- Wind
- Some skin care products - the use of topical corticosteroids and abrasive products should be avoided
- Hot drinks
- Heavy exercise
- Hot baths
These different triggers show that when making dietary changes its not just the foods to eat for rosacea which are important.
Foods to avoid and lifestyle factors can also have a significant influence on the severity of rosacea symptoms.