A strong immune system is crucial to healing eczema. The important key to a strong immune system is through a healthy diet. This basic information regarding the importance of a nutritious diet is something that each dermatologist or physician should discuss with their eczema patients. It's not that the body needs to be medicated; but rather, that it needs to be fed the nutrients for which it is deficient. Although you do not have to eat each and every food group listed here, it is encouraged to try to make sure that these essential nutrients become a part of your or your child's daily diet. Here are some of the essential food groups beneficial to people with eczema.

Vitamin A,B and C are especially important to those with eczema. Commonly we associated Vitamin A with good eyesight and skin. Not many of us realize that this is an immune boosting nutrient as well. Because eczema is an immuno-disorder, you can understand the importance of this essential nutrient towards the healing process. In other words, an eczema flare up signifies a deficiency in Vitamin A (especially beta carotene which is a major contributing factor in eczema healing). As a matter of fact, and if I had to do order of importance, replenishing this nutrient would be my first focus.

A word of caution here, just as vitamin A deficiencies can cause disease, so can over-dosage. This is why you need to be careful when supplementing this vitamin, as in the form of pills. I would prefer consuming this essential nutrient through whole food consumption which is the safest way.

Vitamin B2(riboflavin) helps the body cells to use oxygen and promotes tissue repair/healthy skin. B3 (niacin) is essential for cell metabolism and the absorption of carbohydrates which also helps to maintain healthy skin. Whole food sources for vitamin B2/riboflavin are milk, cheese, liver, fish, & poultry. A major whole food source for B3/niacin is liver.

Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine which regulates histamine release in a healthy manner without promoting the harmful side effects as those created by steroid and other eczema medications. And, of course, Vitamin C is essential for boosting the immune system. You must make sure your body gets a constant daily supply of Vitamin C as it is not stored in the body.

Fiber is especially important for good digestive health. Fiber promotes good digestion. This will not only help rid the constipation problem; but it will also remove candida. Candida is a yeast like parasite that promotes eczema. Fiber promotes healthy digestive flow and helps in ridding the body of the candida that promotes eczema flare ups. The essential fatty acids and vitamin E addresses the skin and cells moisture levels. EFA's are responsible for maintaining the cells moisture. This is important because the skin's moisture barrier serves as a protective barrier against the elements (free radicals). Some of the food sources of fatty acids are fish and shellfish, flaxseed (linseed), soya oil, canola (rapeseed) oil, hemp oil, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, leafy vegetables, and walnuts.

No less important, minerals play an crucial role in eczema healing as well. Zinc and Selenium are essential minerals to boost immune health. Many studies have noted that children with eczema tend to be zinc-deficient . Zinc is found in oysters, crabmeat, braised pot roast, oysters, turkey (dark meat/roasted), and to a far lesser degree in most animal proteins, beans, nuts, whole grains, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds.

Although Selenium is toxic in large doses, it is essential to strengthen the immune system. Dietary selenium comes from cereals, meat, fish, eggs, brazil nuts, chicken liver (cooked), oysters (cooked), sunflower seeds (roasted), tuna fish, & wheat flour (whole grain) . The recommended dietary allowance for adults is 55 micrograms per day. Liver and Brazil nuts are particularly rich sources of selenium.

Just making small adjustment to our daily diet to include all these food groups can make a difference to the journey to natural eczema healing.