Eczema Diet Secrets

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, eczema is a chronic skin disorder that causes an itchy, scaly rash. Diet and lifestyle factors directly affect or inhibit eczema breakouts. The degree of improvement from diet changes varies greatly from person to person. Certain bad foods that are high in sugar can also increase the severity of eczema breakouts because sugar and other foods are directly linked to inflammation in the body.

Eat Foods High in Omega-3-6 Fatty Acids

• Eat salmon three to four times per week to get a good dose of nutrients and omega-3 fats.

  According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids help improve the health of the skin, which can reduce the incidence of eczema. These fats help the skin by reducing inflammation in the body. You can get omega-3 and 6 fats from several food sources--including cod liver oil, eggs and salmon. Other sources of healthy fats include halibut, sunflower seeds, seabuckthorn berries and flax seed oil.

  Cook your foods with coconut or olive oil rather than margarine because both of these healthy oils are high in omega-3 fats. Some of the fats are destroyed through the cooking process, but you can still get some nutrition from these foods. The food can also maintain it's nutrient quality if you eat these oils raw. Sprinkle olive oil on your salad.

Avoid Processed Sugars

• "Fitness" magazine states that a high sugar intake can cause inflammation in the body. Avoid all types of processed sugar--such as white sugar and brown sugar--and artificial sweeteners, such as high fructose corn syrup. You can have small amounts of natural sugar in fruits, but avoid drinking fruit juice. Eating whole fruit helps the body digest natural sugars because of the fiber contained in fruit. Avoid eating white rice, pasta or white bread because these foods convert to sugar in the body.

Eat Raw Fruits and Vegetables

• Eat five or more raw fruits and vegetables daily. Fruits and vegetables are high in nutrients, such as vitamin C, A and calcium. These nutrients contribute to healthy skin which can also reduce inflammation. Cooking your food destroys some of the vitamins and minerals in the food. Eat salads often and try to include fruits or vegetables in every meal throughout the day.