What Can You Eat on the Pagano Diet?
Foods to Eat
- Fruits (except for citrus and strawberries)
- Vegetables
- Wild-caught fish
- Poultry
- Lamb
- Small amounts of dairy
- Brown or wild rice in moderation
- 2 to 4 eggs per week (not fried)
- Oils, such as coconut, olive, sesame, grapeseed, and flaxseed
- Herbal teas
Foods to Avoid
- Red meat
- Margarine, shortening
- Nightshade vegetables — e.g., eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, white potatoes
- Shellfish
- Coffee
- Gluten
- Fried foods
- Added sugars
- Alcohol
“While there are studies investigating the relationship between the gut and psoriasis, at this time there is not enough evidence to suggest that a diet that helps with leaky gut will necessarily [improve psoriasis],” says Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York.
That’s not to say there’s no connection between what we put in our mouths and what shows up on our skin. However, “evidence of the relationship between diet and disease severity is limited” when it comes to psoriasis, Dr. Garshick says.
At the core of the Pagano diet is the concept of inflammation. Inflammation is the body’s response to injury or illness, according to Cleveland Clinic. An example of acute inflammation is when swelling occurs at the site of an injury. With autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis, there is chronic inflammation in the body’s tissues; essentially, the immune system is attacking itself.
“While there is not a great deal of evidence to suggest that diet has a big impact on this condition, there are those that experience improved symptoms with a more anti-inflammatory approach to eating since psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory condition,” says Sharon Palmer, RDN, a registered dietitian and author of The Plant-Powered Diet.
An anti-inflammatory diet features fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy sources of fats like olive oil, avocado, fatty fish and nuts, whole grains, and legumes. It’s also low in processed foods, added sugars and animal products, such as meat and dairy products.
The Pagano diet in particular emphasizes eating alkaline foods, like fruits and vegetables, and reducing acidic foods like meat and grains to heal the gut. But the science on alkaline and acidic foods is lacking.
“There is little research to prove that the alkalinity or acidity of foods impacts health,” Palmer says. “The human body has the ability to maintain a steady pH in the body despite dietary intake.”
