Your feet are an amazing piece of the puzzle that is the human body, holding nearly a quarter of all the bones you have, housing 33 joints, 19 muscles, 10 tendons, and 107 ligaments to help you do everything from standing up to dancing. They have a quarter of a million sweat glands and are natural shock absorbers, and problems in them often reflect your overall health.
They are also prone to a range of conditions because we use them to do so much, which fortunately can be treated with various methods, including orthotics, therapies, and surgeries. However, diet also plays a key role in the health of your feet, and changing some of your foods can make a big difference in preventing several foot problems. Let’s examine what foot problems poor diets can cause and look at what changes in eating habits can do to help.
If you live in the Oak Cliff, Dallas, Texas, area and looking for ways to improve the health of your feet, Dr. Francine Rhinehart and her experienced team can help you find the right treatments for your foot condition.
What you eat affects your whole body’s health, but these are ailments that can directly affect the condition of your feet:
These conditions can result from bad dietary habits, such as eating too many fatty foods, processed foods, and foods high in sugar and sodium.
Here are some dietary habits that can promote better foot health:
To help with this problem, you need to lower the amount of saturated fats, trans fats, and sodium while increasing your intake of fruits, vegetables, and foods rich in omega-3 fats.
Refined grains, sugars, and trans fats in baked goods and junk foods help to worsen problems with inflammation, as well as foods you may have allergies to. Omega-3 fats like those found in fish, green vegetables, and more plant foods will help reduce inflammation.
Many of the unhealthy foods listed above contribute to weight gain and bad health, all of which add more pressure on your feet, which literally carry your body around. Focusing on more fruits, vegetables, and nuts and reducing your intake of sugars, sodium, and fatty foods can help you lose weight and ease the stress on your feet. Physical exercise is also key to losing weight and helping your feet.
Diabetes is often tied to problems with weight and peripheral artery disease, so many of the same problems with those diets are common here. Controlling your blood sugar is the most vital part of getting your diabetes under control, so lean proteins, fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, and some whole grains and healthy fats will help a great deal.
Bone health focuses on getting more vitamin D and calcium, along with regular exercise. Dairy products can help increase your vitamin D, but watch your saturated fats, which can lead to other problems. You can get calcium from green vegetables, and fish like tuna, salmon, and mackerel can help your body absorb calcium.
All of these changes will not only help the health of your feet but can do wonders for your whole body. A smart diet, regular exercise, and an active lifestyle can help prevent many foot problems and reduce issues with others. If you have concerns about foot conditions and how your diet may affect them, make an appointment with Dr. Rhinehart today to get the information you need to stay healthy.
