Skin conditions are a permeating force to be reckoned with. They aren’t just irritating but can be debilitating causing a major loss in the quality of day-to-day life. One of the most common skin conditions is eczema.

In fact, eczema — characterized by rash symptoms that range from moderate to severe — affects “around 10 percent of Americans, that’s about 31 million people.” Long sustained eczema sufferers experience “discomfort, pain, or physical disfigurement, [and] the negative effects of eczema symptoms go much deeper,” including psychological symptoms that are caused by eczema-related disabilities. For instance, as many as “two-thirds of people with eczema say that their disease interferes with their job and household chores,” making even the smallest task — such as washing dishes or folding clothes — almost unperformable.

One of the most frustrating factors that play into eczema treatment is the incredibly broad range of irritants that may be causing flare-ups, as well as the type of eczema you may suffer from. There are 6 general types of eczema including “atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema, nummular eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, and stasis dermatitis,” and far more possible allergens or irritants including “environmental, household, and emotional irritants,” as well as diet.

Discovering the irritant or irritants is an important part of treatment, yet you can also provide your body with some eczema-fighting fuel through certain powerful foods.

Some of the best foods include plant-based, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant-rich items such as quercetin-rich kale, spinach, apples, and blueberries, as well as probiotic-rich foods such as miso, pickles, kimchi, and tempeh. These foods are included in the 15 plant-based recipes below from the Food Monster App that may help easy eczema!

With that said, make sure to consult with your doctor regarding possible eczema-irritating food allergies! Remember, every body is different, therefore it’s important to eliminate all food allergens before embarking on an eczema-fighting diet!

1. Creamy Kale Smoothie

Source: Creamy Kale Smoothie

If you’re not a kale fan, but still want to reap the eczema-fighting powers of that quercetin (plus a slew of other vitamins and minerals), then this Creamy Kale Smoothie recipe by Nikki Stokes is perfect for you! With the powerful flavors of mango and banana, you won’t even taste the kale.

2. Berry Cherry Smoothie

Source: Berry Cherry Smoothie

This Berry Cherry Smoothie by Desiree Rodriguez packs a double punch of eczema fighting quercetin with a large handful of dark green spinach and a half cup of blueberries. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that this smoothie is also delectably smooth, rich, and sweet with a helping of dark sweet cherries, rich vanilla cashew milk, and a teaspoon of agave nectar!

3. Probiotic Berry Smoothie

Source: Probiotic Berry Smoothie

A great follow-up smoothie to your Berry Cherry Smoothie, this Probiotic Berry Smoothie by Kristina Jug and Mitja Bezensek has quercetin-rich apples and blueberries, as well as eczema-fighting probiotics! It’s not only delicious, but also gluten-free, filled with anti-inflammatory agents, and antioxidant-rich.  

4. Blueberry Lemonade

Source: Blueberry Lemonade

Take a relaxing moment with this Blueberry Lemonade recipe by Maryea Flaherty. Not only is this lemonade recipe uncharacteristically low in sugar (a common eczema aggravator), but it is rich in anti-inflammatory lemon and quercetin-rich blueberries.

5. Macrobiotic Miso Bowl

Source: Macrobiotic Miso Bowl

Macrobiotic foods focus on items that draw from the ideals of Zen Buddhism. Sound interesting? Try out this Macrobiotic Miso Bowl recipe by Clare Ragozzino which not only offers a dose of eczema-fighting miso but also integrates a variety of nutrient-rich, macrobiotic-based veggies.

6. Super-Easy Refrigerator Dill Pickles

Source: Super-Easy Refrigerator Dill Pickles

These Super-Easy Refrigerator Dill Pickles by Sonali Ruder are a great DIY recipe to get those probiotic powers in your body at a reasonable price! All you need are a few choice ingredients and an afternoon at home.

7. Butternut Squash Tacos With Tempeh Chorizo

Source: Butternut Squash Tacos With Tempeh Chorizo

This Butternut Squash Tacos With Tempeh Chorizo recipe by Christy Morgan is jam-packed with flavor including cilantro, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, smoked paprika, oregano, cayenne, and a dash of liquid smoke. While the ingredient list may be long, these tacos are super quick to create and are even more delicious for lunch the following day.

8. Homemade Raw Sauerkraut

Source: Homemade Raw Sauerkraut

If you’re all about creating DIY, unprocessed food, then this Homemade Raw Sauerkraut recipe by Marina Yanay-Triner is a great match! With only three ingredients — cabbage, carrots, and sea salt — and armed with some mason jars, you’ll have affordable, clean, and raw sauerkraut to help ease those eczema symptoms.

9. Kimchi Potato Pancakes

Source: Kimchi Potato Pancakes

Want a bit of a twist on traditional sauerkraut? Try your hand at these Kimchi Potato Pancakes by Hyeon Jeong Yoon! Using a base of probiotic-rich vegan kimchi, these potato pancakes are incredibly flavorful, satiating, and nutrient-dense.

10. Crunchy Veggie Tempura

Source: Crunchy Veggie Tempura

This Crunchy Veggie Tempura recipe by HeeJee Lee is great for an upcoming dinner party or for a healthy, mid-day snack. Not only will you get the eczema-easing probiotic powers of tempeh, but this is an easy trick to sneak more quercetin into your day with kale!

11. Turkish Spinach Pie

Source: Turkish Spinach Pie

Looking for an eczema-safe, savory dish for breakfast, lunch, or dinner? This Turkish Spinach Pie recipe by Valentina Chiappa fits the bill! Filled with healthy fat-favorites — such as extra-virgin olive oil, white sesame seeds, and soy yogurt — as well as protein-rich chickpea flour and natural tofu, this easy recipe is not only satiating and nutritious but also provides a dose of eczema-fighting quercetin.

12. Apple Cinnamon Quinoa Porridge

Source: Apple Cinnamon Quinoa Porridge

This Apple Cinnamon Quinoa Porridge recipe by Taryn Fitz-Gerald is the perfect mixture of savory, sweet, and filling eczema-fighting ingredients. Since it only takes 15 minutes to prep, this porridge can be a quick morning pick-me-up or even enjoyed in the evening as a sweet treat dinner!

13. Orange Turmeric Scones With Wild Blueberries

Source: Orange Turmeric Scones With Wild Blueberries

Want the ultimate breakfast treat that also fights inflammation? These Orange Turmeric Scones With Wild Blueberries by Selva Wohlgemuth are filed with anti-inflammatory powerhouses turmeric and blueberries, as well as vitamin-C rich valencia orange! These scones are perfect to make on a lazy Sunday to last throughout the week.

14. Miso-Glazed Eggplant

Source: Miso-Glazed Eggplant

This Miso-Glazed Eggplant recipe by Julie Zimmer meets that perfect balance between function and taste. Rich in fermented miso, this recipe will ease eczema outbreaks, while satiating with nutritious, meaty, and versatile eggplant.

15. Sesame Tempeh With Soba Noodles

Source: Sesame Tempeh With Soba Noodles

This Sesame Tempeh With Soba Noodles recipe by Karlijn Wever combines heart-healthy soba noodles with eczema fighting probiotic-rich tempeh for a comforting, quick-prep, flavorful meal!

We also highly recommend downloading our Food Monster App, which is available for iPhone, and can also be found on Instagram and Facebook. The app has more than 15,000 plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes, and subscribers gain access to new recipes every day. Check it out!

For more Vegan Food, Health, Recipe, Animal, and Life content published daily, don’t forget to subscribe to the One Green Planet Newsletter!

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