The Best and Worst Foods for Healthy Feet
As most people know, our diets can impact many different areas of our health. But did you know that proper nutrition can help our foot health? When it comes to your diet, some foods will reduce your risk for a foot injury and pain, but others will elevate your risk for pain and inflammation. So, today, Dr. Ross Cohen of The Foot & Ankle Center of Maryland in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, shares what to eat and what to avoid for happy, healthy feet.
Best Food for Foot Health
Vitamin B. As our patients with diabetes know, neuropathy can take a toll on your foot health. Because this condition is caused by nerve damage, in some cases, it makes the feet feel numb while in others, it can cause scorching foot pain or tingling feet. While difficult to cure, you can help avert neuropathy by supplementing your nerve health with vitamin B. In some cases, adding vitamin B to your diet can improve your neuropathy symptoms. Consume foods like cottage cheese, eggs, salmon, sardines, and tuna.
Vitamin C: Many foot problems, including plantar fasciitis and tendinitis, are caused by inflammation. Luckily, vitamin C can help battle that inflammation. So, try to consume foods that are rich in vitamin C, including kiwis, strawberries, tomatoes, oranges, spinach, and kale.
Vitamin D and Calcium: Foods that contain calcium supplement your bone growth and health while you’re still young. As you age, calcium-rich food can help patients avoid osteoporosis, but it needs some help, and that’s where vitamin D comes in because it helps your body absorb calcium. To get sufficient calcium each day, choose dairy products like milk or cheese, leafy greens such as broccoli or spinach, or even sardines. It’s possibly best to add a daily supplement to help meet your minimum daily requirements through your diet alone.
Foods That Can Be Damaging to Your Foot Health
In addition to consuming the best food for healthy feet, you’ll also want to avoid foods that could undo your efforts. That means avoiding foods that cause inflammation, including trans-fat-filled ingredients such as shortening, red meats, or even desserts that have a lot of refined sugars.
Also, try to avoid foods that are rich in purine because they can activate gout attacks, which often affect the joint in your big toe, causing burning pain and inflammation. Several different foods can trigger gout; however, the worst offenders include fried treats that are high in fat, organ meat like liver, or alcohol.
Now that you know what to eat and what to avoid to protect your feet, you make some healthy changes. But if your feet are hurting already, don’t sit at home, hoping the pain will get better on its own. Instead, contact the office of Dr. Ross Cohen of The Foot & Ankle Center of Maryland in Glen Burnie, Maryland, at (410) 761-3501 to schedule yourfirst appointment for 2023!