The top three things I recommend cutting back on or avoiding with HS. Nutrition addition.
#1 Sugar
Watch your daily sugar INTAKE.
Sugar consumption can be found in beverages, edibles, sweets, seasonings, nutritional supplements, etc.
Studies link high sugar consumption to metabolic problems, inflammation, insulin resistance, and chronic inflammation due to increased inflammatory mediators and cytokines. Even in healthy individuals.
You don’t want that in addition to HS. Remember, Hidradenitis is inflammatory; therefore, any aggravation will worsen the condition.
An occasional indulgence is certainly not something I’d discourage. You deserve a treat! However, staying mindful of how much sugar you’re consuming daily can really help with flare control.
Here’s what I suggest:
Keep an eye on your daily intake (the good and bad sugars alike). The type of sugar is insignificant if your diet isn’t already healthy, balanced, organic, and minimally processed. You now have one less thing to keep track of.
Moreover, the inclusion of some items in #2 and/or #3 below will inherently decrease your sugar consumption by cutting out associated sugary and carbohydrate-heavy foods.
#2 Brewer's yeast, also known as Saccharomyces
Baked goods (pizza, cookies, bread, cakes), vinegar, black tea, soy sauces, fermented cheese, mushrooms, wine, and beer all contain this.
If complete elimination isn’t an option cutting back may help.
#3 Dairy
Dairy is found in many products; it may take some trial and error, but it’s certainly manageable. I think it’s worthwhile to eliminate or at least cut back on.
Any of this can be started right away. Most importantly, lower your sugar consumption.
Try not to get too stressed, one day at a time. Proceed gradually, maintaining a practical outlook. What food/ingredients do you already have at home that need using up? What are your financial capabilities from this point onward (should you choose healthier foods for example). Are you mentally ready?
Come up with a well-devised game plan. Be consistent with it. Your body needs time to adapt to anything new you try, like this. My personal recommendation is giving it at least 5-6 months, but ideally 10 months to a year. This also helps get you in a groove. Time goes by quickly just keep going and track your progress by journaling or using the HS free app. I will elaborate on this topic in a future “keeping it real” post or blog.
Small changes can create significant long-term results, whether you do one or all three.
Tidbits Tips:
No two people are alike. Concentrate on you and your HS.
Just cutting back on some of these can help.
Vegan sites are really helpful when learning about what is dairy and what is not.
Eggs are not a dairy product. An easy way to remember, chickens do not produce milk, the source for dairy products.
See if your insurance or country covers a nutritionist or a dietician. And food sensitivity tests (ordered by a qualified provider). This can help with guidance and narrowing things down.
HS is an inflammatory illness. Controlling internal inflammation is very important.
Metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular disease are linked to HS. Managing chronic inflammation is important for overall health.
Special Note: This is the part of the platform dedicated to genuine “keeping it real” content. While research informs my advice, this time it’s mainly based on my decades of experience and behavioral observations. Therefore, in this section, I’ll just be myself and do what I love—helping others. I won’t be citing sources here. Hugs, Denise Fixsen