MyPsoriasisTeam members often wonder how their diet might affect their skin condition and whether certain foods trigger psoriasis flares. One member asked, “Does eating chicken trigger psoriasis?” Another wrote, “Do people find changing their diets helps psoriasis? If so, which diet plan?”

While there’s no single diet that can cure psoriasis, extreme low-carbohydrate (low-carb) diets — including the carnivore diet — have sparked interest in helping to control psoriasis symptoms.

Carnivore Diet: The Basics

The carnivore diet, generally speaking, means eating meat, fish, eggs, some types of dairy, and nothing else. Some people on this diet only eat one type of meat. Others eat all kinds of meat and other animal products. Some people cut out food groups so strictly that they don’t season their food. There are many variations of the carnivore diet, but they’re all based on the same claim: Eating only meat is the best thing for your health.

There have been anecdotal reports of people who claim their health issues have benefited from this diet. But many of these claims about the carnivore diet are unscientific and should be approached with caution.

Some supporters of the carnivore diet claim that plant-based food is toxic and causes inflammation, but there’s little evidence to support this. For example, lectins (natural proteins found in many plant-based foods) and gluten are cited as toxins. Lectin is common in beans and rice and may cause stomach upset when too much is eaten. However, it’s not usually necessary to avoid it completely. Gluten is harmful to people with celiac disease and nonceliac gluten sensitivity, but eating a gluten-free diet is not necessary for most people.

The Carnivore Diet and Carbs

People on the carnivore diet don’t eat any carbohydrates because they believe that a high-carb diet is the cause of chronic (ongoing) disease. The carnivore diet is more strict than the ketogenic diet (keto diet), which limits carbs but doesn’t cut them out entirely. Fans of the carnivore diet also point out that avoiding all carbohydrates can help with weight loss. This is indeed the main reason people might lose weight while on the carnivore diet. However, carbohydrates are the body’s preferred source of energy, so cutting them out completely can be risky.

You may benefit from reducing your intake of white sugar and flour, but following a strictly low-carb or no-carb diet is not generally recommended. You can still benefit from eating carbs in the form of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

The Carnivore Diet and Psoriasis

Because of claims that plant-based ingredients can be inflammatory, some people believe that an all-meat meal plan can improve or cure psoriasis. Apart from the potential inaccuracy of these claims, keep in mind how eating a carnivorous diet could impact your health in other ways.

Does Meat Make Psoriasis Worse?

Red meat and psoriasis don’t mix well. In particular, beef and pork are high in saturated fatty acids. Foods with high levels of saturated fats may trigger inflammation, which can worsen psoriasis symptoms. So, eating lots of red meat isn’t the best choice for people with psoriasis.

But there are some kinds of meat that are good for psoriasis. Lean proteins, such as poultry and fish, are great meal options for people living with psoriasis.

Carnivore Diet and Heart Disease

People with psoriasis are at a higher risk of heart disease compared to the general population. The carnivore diet can make this worse because an all-meat diet can lead to high cholesterol, which can increase the risk of heart problems. Eating large amounts of high-sodium, processed meats can also increase the risk of hypertension (high blood pressure) — another condition associated with psoriasis. Hypertension can raise the risk of other types of heart disease and stroke.

Carnivore Diet and Other Health Concerns

In addition to possibly affecting heart health, cutting out all grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables can create other health problems. Some other potential health issues that may be associated with a carnivore diet include:

• Deficiency in minerals and vitamins
• Constipation from lack of fiber
• Kidney disease (related to high sodium from eating large amounts of processed meats)
• Colorectal cancer (associated with high meat consumption)

Psoriasis Diet Recommendations

In general, a healthy diet focused on fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, lean protein, and healthy fats is recommended. This is especially true for people with psoriasis and heart disease. This type of diet is often called the Mediterranean diet. A Mediterranean-style diet also includes low-fat dairy products and nuts and seeds. This type of diet is thought to have anti-inflammatory effects on the body, which may help improve psoriasis symptoms.

“I’ve drastically changed my diet to eating more of an anti-inflammatory diet, in hopes that I may lessen or drastically reduce my plaque psoriasis, as well as my PsA joint pain,” one MyPsoriasisTeam member wrote.

A Mediterranean diet limits added sugars, processed foods, and saturated and trans fats. Limiting these types of inflammatory foods may also help with psoriasis symptoms. Eating high-fat foods can trigger inflammation in your adipose tissue (body fat), which could lead to a psoriasis flare-up.

People with psoriasis may also find they benefit from limiting other foods and beverages that trigger their particular symptoms. These may include alcohol, dairy, red meat, refined carbohydrates like white bread, and fried foods.

Talk to Your Doctor

Over time, you may discover that eating or avoiding certain foods helps you control your psoriasis symptoms. For specific medical advice about dietary changes, including taking supplements, talk to your dermatology provider or another health professional. Remember, don’t adopt an extreme diet or an elimination diet without consulting a medical provider.

Find Your Team

MyPsoriasisTeam is the social network for people with psoriasis and their loved ones. On MyPsoriasisTeam, more than 134,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with psoriasis.

How does your diet affect your psoriasis symptoms? Have you cut out or added any foods? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.