Diet Plan For Eczema Patients

Eczema is also known as dermatitis that causes inflammation of the skin which is characterized by dry and irritated skin which sometimes also becomes scaly, wet or blistered. The exact cause of eczema is not clear and the reason behind it may be many like allergic reactions, stress and fatigue. Temperature sometimes also plays a role in causation of this disease. Out of all these, diet is also one of the main causative factors in etiology of eczema. Various food items can trigger the eczema or aggravate the pre-existing condition, however the food that triggers the condition can vary in various people. So, it is very important to know about the diet in this disease because it helps to resolve it fastly.

DIET CHART FOR ECZEMA PATIENTS

EARLY-MORNING

Amla juice / Aloe Vera Juice

(It helps in Relieving aggravated pitta)

(You can have this juice regularly, empty stomach after passing stool and brushing teeth)

BREAKFAST

Sprouts / Vegetable soup / Oats / Boiled vegetable salad / Wheat Porridge (Dalia) / Semolina (Upma) / Chapati + Dal + Veg

(Light food articles in breakfast are very beneficial for digestive agni ignition)

MID-MORNING

Coconut water / Fruit / Herbal tea

(They provide a cooling effect on the body)

LUNCH

Chapati + Parboiled rice + Vegetables + Dal / Pulao

(A light lunch is also very important to maintain adequate nutrition levels in the body)

EVENING

Vegetable soup / Poha (Rice Flakes) / Toast /Herbal tea

(Having these food articles are very beneficial to avoid long hours of empty stomach)

DINNER

Vegetable curry + Chapati + Dal / Veg dalia / Khichdi

(A nutritious yet light dinner helps in proper digestion of food articles and also avoid indigestion associated with constipation)

DIET INSTRUCTIONS

CEREALS

Cereals to be consumed

Wheat, Quinoa, Buckwheat millets, Rice, Oats, Sorghum, Corn, Finger millet, Foxtail millet, Little millet, Barley

(They are light to digest and in addition do not cause accumulation of endotoxins)

Cereals to be avoided

Refined flour and Rye

(They are responsible for accumulation of endotoxins)

FRUITS

Fruits to be consumed

Apple, Banana, Cheery, Watermelon, Muskmelon, Avocado, Peaches, Pear, Pomegranate, Sapodilla, Papaya, Apricot, Blueberries

(These fruits are very beneficial and provide the body with adequate nutrition)

Fruits to be avoided

All citrus fruits like lemon, oranges, sweet lemon, etc; Strawberry, Mango, Kiwi

(These fruits cause pitta aggravation and thus cause a flare up of symptoms)

VEGETABLES

Vegetables to be consumed

Ridge gourd, Pumpkin, Spinach, Potato, Drumstick, Carrot, Broccoli, Onion, Ginger, Beetroot, Snake gourd, Bitter gourd, Mushroom, Bottle gourd, Kale, Brussels sprouts, Celery, Lettuce, Zucchini, Turnips, Cucumber, Ash gourd, pumpkin

(The vegetables are a very good source of vitamins and minerals. They provide the body with adequate nourishment)

Vegetables to be avoided

Tomatoes, Eggplant or Brinjal, Radish, Garlic

(They are the reason for pitta aggravation)

PULSES

Pulses to be consumed

Yellow moong lentil, Green gram, pink lentils, Split pigeon peas, Split chickpeas

(If consumed in limited quantities, they are potent in adding fuel to the digestive fire and hence improve digestion. Balance tridosha, controls vitiated vata and provides nourishment to the body and its tissues)

Pulses to be limited

Black grams (Occasionally), black lentils, kidney beans

(They are responsible for pitta imbalance by diminishing the agni)

DAIRY PRODUCTS OR FATS

Dairy Products or Fats to be consumed

All are to be avoided or limited except cow’s ghee

(The dairy products are heavy to digest, aggravate kapha and imbalance kapha leads to pitta aggravation)

Dairy Products or Fats to be avoided

Condensed milk, Cheeze, cream, yogurt, Cottage cheese, Butter, Condensed milk, Curd

OILS

Oils to be consumed

Cow’s Ghee, Olive oil, Mustard oil, Rice bran oil

(They help in igniting the digestive fire)

Oils to be avoided

Canola oil, Palm oil, Coconut oil, sesame oil

(They cause diminishing of digestive agni)

SPICES

Spices to be consumed

Turmeric, Cumin, Coriander leaves, Ginger, Fennel, 2-3 black pepper, fenugreek dried leaves, coriander seeds

(Spices act as a fuel to the digestive agni, enhances it and maintains it)

Spices to be avoided

Nutmeg, Mustard, Pimiento, Red chilli, green chillies

(These spices are not suitable in case of pitta dosha aggravation)

DRINKS

Drinks to be consumed

Vegetable soups, Coconut water, Herbal tea

(They are balya for the body and helps in maintaining digestive fire)

Drinks to be avoided

Alcoholic beverages, Cream based drinks, Milk based drinks, Canned drinks, Carbonated and sweetened drinks

(Increases dosha vitiation)

FLESH FOODS

Flesh Foods to be consumed

Fish, Lean chicken (Occasionally)

(They are the source of protein and are very useful in providing the body with adequate nutrition)

Flesh Foods to be avoided

Fish fried in suitable oil, Red meat, Prawns, Lobster, Crab, Lean beef, Pork, Lamb, Ham, Turkey, Rabbit, Egg yolk, Fish roe, Sausages, Mutton, Salami, Bacon, Duck, Goose, Meat pies, Visible fat on meat, Organ parts like Liver, Kidney and Chest.

SEEDS AND DRY FRUITS

Dry Fruits to be consumed

Flax seeds, Almonds, Walnut, Raisins (Soaked one)

(Dry fruits and nuts are essential and helps in strengthening the body)

Dry Fruits to be avoided

Cashew, Pistachios, Peanuts, sunflower seeds, nuts

PREPARED FOODS

Prepared foods to be consumed

Homemade only

(As they do not contain preservatives and are really best in managing a number of conditions)

Prepared foods to be avoided

All bakery products or processed foods, Sauces, Fruit jellies, Jams, Mayonnaise, White sugar, Ice-cream, Cream soups, Dark chocolate, Butterscotch, Coconut bar, Chutneys, Pickles, Junk food, Deep fried foods, All Spicy and Salty foods, Refined sugar.

(These are not good for the body and contain a lot of preservatives which affect the body in a very bad way and diminish the agni)

SWEETENERS

Sweeteners to be consumed

Honey

(It is being guided as consumable by Ayurvedic Acharyas)

Sweeteners to be avoided

Jaggery, Sugar, All the artificial sweeteners

(They are potent for kapha aggravation and causing various symptom aggravation)

HOME REMEDIES

• Apply coconut oil on the affected area locally (It has a cooling effect on the application site)
• Consume 20-30 ml of bitter gourd juice regularly (Helps in blood detoxification)
• Consume Aloe vera juice everyday early in the morning and you can also apply Aloe vera gel locally on affected areas (It also provides a soothing effect on the application site)
• Apply tea tree oil locally on affected areas as it possesses anti inflammatory and antiseptic properties (Relieves burning sensation)

LIFESTYLE AND DIETARY TIPS

• Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water daily.
• Avoid stress as it is also a triggering factor. You can do Yoga and meditation for it.
• Maintain personal hygiene as it will help in maintaining healthy skin.
• Sleep well on time and get up early in the morning.
• Avoid suppression of natural urges such as urination, defecation, sleep hunger, sneezing etc.