Atopic dermatitis, AKA eczema, is a skin condition that causes itchy, dry, flaky patches. In the U.S., it affects about 10 million children and 16 million adults, many of whom develop it in middle age. The only treatments are moisturizers to ease dryness, antihistamines to relieve the itch and topical steroids to ease inflammation.
The cause is hard to pinpoint, but intriguing studies reveal that the American diet may be a major culprit. Fast-food consumption has been associated with a 20% increased risk of developing AD and a 70% increase in the risk among adolescents. Interestingly, children born outside the U.S. have a 50% lower risk of developing AD, but their risk increases after living in the U.S. for 10 years.
Those facts led University of California researchers to investigate the relationship between salt intake and AD -- fast food is loaded with it. They found that folks with AD have higher levels of sodium in their diets and their urine! And every gram of sodium consumed ups the AD risk.
The good news? Consuming less sodium may control or reverse eczema. Foods that deliver more than half the added sodium in Americans' diets include breads and rolls; pizza, burritos and tacos; soups; cold cuts, frankfurters and cured meats; baked goods; and chicken nuggets. So, aim for a plant-based diet, free of processed and fast foods, substitute potassium salt (no sodium) for two-thirds of your table salt (sodium chloride), and investigate the low-sodium diet advice in the iHerb.com blog "The DASH Diet Explained."
Dr. Mike Roizen is the founder of www.longevityplaybook.com, and Dr. Mehmet Oz is global advisor to www.iHerb.com, the world's leading online health store. Roizen and Oz are chief wellness officer emeritus at Cleveland Clinic and professor emeritus at Columbia University, respectively. Together they have written 11 New York Times bestsellers (four No. 1's).
(c)2024 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2024 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
