Psoriatic Arthritis

Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) diet essential: eliminate gluten (molecular mimicry with joint tissue), dairy (inflammatory for many), grains, legumes, nightshades (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, potatoes—worsen inflammation in subset of PsA patients), eggs, nuts, seeds for 30-90 days minimum. Focus on: anti-inflammatory foods (fatty fish 3-4x/week, leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, berries, turmeric, ginger), bone broth daily (collagen, glutamine for gut healing), fermented foods after initial healing phase (sauerkraut, kimchi for probiotic support), healthy fats (olive oil, avocado, coconut oil), organic meats and vegetables (reduce toxin load), eliminate sugar and processed foods entirely (feed inflammation and gut dysbiosis). Reintroduce foods one at a time after symptoms improve to identify individual triggers. Many patients find nightshades and gluten most problematic. Adequate protein important for healing and preventing muscle wasting. Consider short-term fasting or fasting-mimicking diet (reduces inflammation, promotes autophagy—consult practitioner).

Stress management paramount (stress worsens autoimmune flares—meditation, breathwork, yoga, therapy), sleep 8-9 hours (immune regulation and healing during deep sleep), moderate exercise (swimming, walking, gentle yoga—maintains joint mobility without overexertion, high-intensity exercise can worsen inflammation during flares), maintain healthy weight (obesity worsens PsA—every 10 lbs lost reduces joint stress), avoid smoking (dramatically worsens PsA), limit alcohol (inflammatory, disrupts gut microbiome), sunlight exposure daily (vitamin D production, circadian rhythm), reduce environmental toxins (clean personal care products, avoid plastics, filter water), physical therapy (maintains range of motion, prevents joint stiffness), heat/cold therapy (alternating for pain relief), Epsom salt baths (magnesium absorption, muscle relaxation), avoid NSAIDs long-term (damage gut lining, worsen leaky gut—short-term use only), address emotional trauma (many autoimmune patients have history of trauma or chronic stress—therapy, EMDR, somatic work helpful).