No specific “psoriasis diet” has been linked to a decrease in psoriasis symptoms such as skin irritation and itching, but some people with the condition find that consuming specific anti-inflammatory ingredients helps them avoid flare-ups. For some MyPsoriasisTeam members, that means squeezing fresh fruits and vegetables and drinking their juices.

“I recommend strict, lifelong dietary changes, including juicing,” one member wrote. Another said, “Juicing and staying away from preservatives seems to help reduce the intensity of a lot of my flares.”

If you’re thinking about adding juicing to your routine, read on for important facts to consider for psoriasis, plus some tips and recipes to get you started.

What Is Juicing?

Juicing means taking a fruit or vegetable and separating the liquid components (the juice) from the solids (the pulp and fiber), resulting in a drinkable juice. This is usually done by either squeezing the produce by hand or using a juicer — a juice extraction machine.

Typically, juicing doesn’t involve placing all the fruit pulp into a blender — that’s referred to as blending. The difference is that blending allows you to drink a liquefied version of the whole fruit rather than just sipping its juice.

What Are the Benefits of Juicing?

Many people believe juicing produces a more concentrated version of the fruits or vegetables the juice comes from, delivering more refined nutrients that are easy for your body to absorb. However, no scientific evidence indicates that consuming juice is better for you than eating the entire fruit or vegetable, whether for treating a skin condition or in general.

For people who don’t want to eat produce whole or drink it blended, juicing may be an alternative way to get the nutrients these fruits and veggies offer. In general, however, scientists don’t believe that juicing brings more health benefits than consuming a whole piece of produce.

What Are the Risks of Juicing?

Because juicing removes fiber from produce, consuming excessive amounts of juice can negatively affect some people. Fiber is the indigestible portion of plant foods. It has many benefits, such as keeping our gut healthy and promoting natural detoxification for clearer skin.

When we drink juice without hunger-satisfying fiber, it’s all too easy to drink high levels of sugar. This is particularly true for juicing fruits, since they have a higher natural sugar content than vegetables. For some people, this big dose of sugar can spike blood sugar levels, leading to insulin imbalances and inflammation, which can make psoriasis worse.

In addition, some individuals with psoriasis find that consuming sugar can trigger psoriasis flare-ups. “My biggest triggers are stress and sugar,” one MyPsoriasisTeam member wrote. Another said, “Sugar and gluten cause me to flare up so badly.”

If you find your psoriasis symptoms seem to be worse when you consume sugar, then it’s possible juicing might trigger symptom flare-ups as well.

Can Juicing Help Reduce Psoriasis Symptoms?

Although no studies have investigated the effects of juicing on psoriasis specifically, researchers do believe consuming fruits and vegetables can be a great way to improve your overall health.

One study indicated that because people process foods in unique ways, people with psoriasis may benefit from personalizing their diets by excluding triggering ingredients and adding those that help clear skin. In general, the study authors found that simple sugars were among the more common triggering ingredients, while fiber (which can be found in whole fruits and vegetables) appeared to help ease psoriasis symptoms for some people.

Tips for Juicing and Blending With Psoriasis

If you’re interested in drinking your produce rather than eating it, consider blending rather than juicing to keep that beneficial fiber. And don’t just reach into the fruit basket — aim for a healthy drink made of about two-thirds vegetables and one-third fruit. Doubling up on the veggies can help ensure you get a balanced level of fiber and other nutrients, with less natural sugars.

The following tips can help you to best prepare and enjoy your juiced or blended beverage:

• If you want a thinner, more juicelike consistency, include water, milk, or unsweetened plant-based milk rather than fruit juice, which adds sugar.
• Add protein such as yogurt, nut butters, or kefir, which will also make your drink more filling and help balance your blood sugar.
• Include spices or flavorings that might boost health benefits or make the taste more appealing to you, such as cinnamon or vanilla extract. Or try an anti-inflammatory option like fresh ginger or turmeric.

MyPsoriasisTeam members often talk about how they create smoothies around their favorite skin-enhancing ingredients to help reduce psoriasis symptoms. “A raw stalk of broccoli in a smoothie every day for three months,” one member wrote. “I am proof that it works.”

Another member said, “Spent about a week getting my anti-inflammatory foods into a smoothie — ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, and a tiny bit of cayenne. Feeling good!”

Before adding juices or smoothies to your diet, check with your doctor to ensure this won’t negatively interact with your medications or other components of your psoriasis treatment plan.

Try Out Some Juicing Recipes

If you’d like to add juices or blended smoothies to your diet, talk with a nutritionist, dietitian, or doctor about what to include and what to leave out of your drinks. After getting their input, you can look for juicing recipes and ideas for smoothies — such as the two below —to help round out a healthy diet.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyPsoriasisTeam is the social network for people with psoriasis and their loved ones. On MyPsoriasisTeam, more than 116,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with psoriasis.

Have you tried juicing or drinking smoothies to help your psoriasis? Did you find it helpful? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.