Vitiligo & Diet

Diet plays an important role in the treatment of Vitiligo. Cold and phlegm producing foods are harmful in this disease. Not only the response of the treatment is delayed but also the lesions can spread if such foods are used frequently. Food items which are restricted, and those recommended, are those given below:

TO BE USED: Cereal: Whole grain food, millet/barley porridge, oats, rice, pasta (processed grains not recommended) Breads: only whole grain breads, bran wheat chapatti, Fruits: Blue berries (people have different opinions), rasp berries, pears, cherries, banana, pineapple, apple, mangos, apricots, grapes, papaya, amaranth Vegetables: potatoes, Beet, Carrots, tomatoes, Cucumbers, Courgettes, Tykva, Cauliflowers, spinach, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage (vegetables of different colors), garlic, celery root, peas, beans, portabellas, crimini and button mushrooms, onions, French beans, chillies, red pepper, fenugreek, drumsticks, turnips, green and red raddish, parsley, plumes, bitter gourd, ridge gourd, caraway, anisi soy products, lentils or pulses especially bengal gram or chick peas Drink: Tea without sugar in the morning, 6-7 glasses of water every day, juices, honey, green tea with mint (people are confused about it) Nuts (vitamin E and special fats): Figs (excellent), Apricots, brain, walnuts, almonds (very good), pistachiounut, black dates Oil: Olive/vegetable, pure ghee obtained from butter (the best),mustard oil, Other things: beans and pumpkin seeds, only boiled meat, jaggery ***USE a lot of ginger and turmeric in the food ***Early morning sunlight to get light ultra violet rays ***Better if the diet is salt free Breakfast: Prridge, Berries, Dried fruits (figs the best) Lunch/dinner -1medium sized vegetable or fruit -½ cup (125 ml) juice - ½ cup (125 ml) raw, cooked, fresh, frozen or canned, vegetables or fruits - 1 cup (250 ml) raw, leafy vegetables - ¼ cup dried fruit Vitamin supplements: With the diet above mentioned Scientists now know that many people with vitiligo are deficient in folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin C, pantothenic acid , copper, and zinc. Vitamin B-12 and Folic acid be taken together. i) Recouleur vitamins (one vitamin per day with food), Recouleur® is a synergistic combination of vitamins and minerals that may help fill in the color in gray hair and depigmented skin. Vegetarian, Price: $89.95, Bottles contain 180 tablets. That is a six month supply if you take one per day. For optimum results: Take one tablet daily with a meal. Or, as directed by a physician You must have some of your original skin or hair color. Exposure to sun or artificial sunlamp can accelerate skin effects. A well balanced diet is the best foundation for starting supplementation. ii) calcium plus vitamin D tablet every day. DO NOT USE: Fats, spices, salty, SOUR FOOD: acidic/citric (lemon, lime oranges and mandarins, grapefruits, amla )m Vitamin C prohibits production of melanin. Beef, Red meat and chicken, egg horseradish, brinjal, mustard, pepper, melons of all kinds, gooseberry, tomatoes if possible, sour strawberries. White bread, flour, fried and smoked foods, bilberry, quince, chocolate, , strong tea, butter and margarine, alcohol, coffee, NO milk or milk products, buttermilk, ice cream, flavored drinks, alcohol. tamarind, cashew nuts, Fish and sea food Pickles References: http://www.dermabest.com/vitiligo_diet.htm http://www.wholisticresearch.com/info/artshow.php3?artid=270 http://vitilem.bravehost.com/ http://www.leucoderma.com/app/diet.asp http://www.recouleur.com/ http://www.antivitiligo.com/vitiligo-treatment/vitiligo-diet.html