When it comes to natural healing, I believe that improving nutritional habits is the most important factor. If you don’t take the initiative to learn what foods you should and should not be eating, your skin will never heal. With that in mind, diet alone is not enough. In order to clear your skin for good, you need to learn how to embrace living a healthier lifestyle in general. Incorporating regular exercise into your life is one of the most powerful decisions you can make for you skin and overall health.
So, is exercise good for psoriasis? Exercise is essential in optimizing the overall performance of your body and eliminating disease causing toxins. The key to naturally healing psoriasis is to develop habits that are going to improve the overall functionality of your body. If you heal your overall health, you will heal your psoriasis.
Although everyone is aware that exercise has major health benefits, many have a hard time finding the time or motivation the make regular exercise a staple in their lifestyle. We are a busy society. Many of us are constantly occupied by our day to day obligations and it is easy to let exercise drop on your priority list. But if you want to reach a future free of psoriasis and the problems that come with it, I would strongly recommend that you find a way to consistently fit some exercise into your schedule.
“A little exercise is better than no exercise.”
EXERCISE SKIN BENEFITS
Naturally healing your skin demands a holistic outlook. Whats good for your skin is good for your overall health and vice versa. The benefits of exercise are no secret. Finding the motivation to consistently exercise is one of the best things you can do for your skin and overall health. Not only can exercise help heal the blemishes on your skin, but it can also greatly improve the strength and appearance of your skin in general.
IMPROVES IMMUNE FUNCTION
As I’m sure you know, psoriasis is an autoimmune disease. Which means that the fate of your skin health is ultimately determined by the health of your immune system. Nothing can improve immune function quite like exercise. In order to heal your skin from the inside out, you must take the necessary steps to correct your immune issues. There is nothing more powerful in achieving this than exercise.
DECREASES INFLAMMATION
Psoriasis also goes hand in hand with inflammation. Decreasing inflammation in the body is key in healing psoriasis and improving your health. The anti-inflammatory effects of exercise are also powerful in terms of skin appearance and texture. By improving blood flow and calming inflammation, exercise can assist in nourishing skin cells and keeping them engaged and vibrant. I personally have seen a substantial visible improvement in my skin over the last few years.
RELIEVES STRESS
Many people find that their psoriasis breakouts are closely related to their stress levels. When you get stressed out, your body becomes vulnerable to inflammation and negative immune reactions. Your defense system is weakened as you are putting extra pressure on your body as a unit. One of my favorite benefits of exercise is the stress relief. There is no feeling quite like the uplifting effect that comes along with exercise. I always feel more energized and positive after a workout.
HOW MUCH/WHAT KIND OF EXERCISE?
If you are a beginner when it comes to exercise and don’t currently engage in physical activity on a regular basis, don’t stress yourself out. Although I do endorse living a very active lifestyle, you don’t need to become a gym rat or a marathon runner to get your skin health back on track. The idea here is simply to use exercise as a tool that will help create an environment within your body that will induce healing and eliminate disease.
The exercise does not need to be strenuous. The most important thing is to just get off your butt and start moving. Running or walking for a half hour 3 days a week is a great place to start. Considering that the ultimate goal is to make exercise a constant in your lifestyle, keep in mind that eventually you want to get to a point where you enjoy exercise. So find out what physical activities you like and engage in them. If you hate lifting weights, then start running or find some other form of strength training. If you hate running, start lifting weights or find a sport to play that will make your running more enjoyable. Just start moving!
There are so many different forms of exercise that you can engage in. My favorite forms of exercise include playing sports and weightlifting. I lift weights anywhere from 3-5 times a week and also participate in basketball leagues year round. I was never one to walk outside in the morning and go for a 3 mile run, so basketball is a great way for me to get my cardio workout in an enjoyable way.
IS SWEATING BAD FOR PSORIASIS?
Have you ever been outside on a hot day or stuck in a warm room and noticed that your psoriasis becomes more red and even uncomfortable once you start to sweat? The reason this happens is because when you sweat your blood becomes hot and comes to the surface of your skin as it attempts to eliminate toxins. Many people think that this sudden flare up is a bad thing and that it actually causes their psoriasis to get worse. This is a misunderstanding. Your skin is the biggest detoxification organ in your body and sweating is simply part of the process of your body trying to detoxify itself.
Years ago when I was really struggling with my skin, I tried to limit the amount of exercise I engaged in because sweating appeared to make my skin issues worse. I now realize that this was an irrational fear. Although sweating may make your skin appear to flare up in the short term, this is nothing more than a detoxification reaction. As the old saying goes: Sometimes things are going to get worse before they get better. In order to heal your skin, you need to eliminate toxins from your body on a consistent basis. Exercise/Sweating is the most effective way to make this happen.
THE BIG PICTURE: CARING FOR YOURSELF
At the end of the day, making the decision to make exercise a constant in your lifestyle is a powerful form of self respect. Learning to care for yourself through understanding the importance of physical activity is a virtue that will bring you results that reach far beyond skin disease. Once upon a time, I was the person who didn’t see the point of exercising. I didn’t see how becoming serious about exercise was going to move me forward in this life. I now realize that making an investment in the health of your body will improve every aspect of your life.
Healing psoriasis is not about shortcuts. If you are serious about conquering this nasty disease and regaining control of your life, you need to make the effort to learn why it is so important to take care of your one and only body and then have the self love to take action. Total healing will stem from learning and implementing a holistic approach. Seeking optimum performance from your body is not something you should take for granted. Your body is the carrier of your soul and everything that you stand for. Love yourself.
