You are what you eat, and that includes your feet! Most people associate a good diet with weight loss or heart health, but actually, your diet can affect a lot of your body, including your feet.
One of the main causes of foot and ankle problems is inflammation such as arthritis, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, etc. Nutrition plays a significant role in inflammation as some foods encourage it while others fight it. Some of the most common foods that contribute to inflammation are sugar, trans fat, saturated fats sourced from red meats, and certain refined grains. Alternatively, leafy greens, fish, berries, garlic, beans, and several spices are excellent sources of anti-inflammatory nutrients.
Apart from inflammation, poor bone health is another leading contributor to foot conditions such as osteoporosis and foot fractures. Good bone health is maintained through a balanced intake of calcium and vitamin D. Dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt are among the best sources of calcium. While vitamin D can be obtained from fatty fish, certain cereals, mushrooms, and certain fortified drinks. Vitamin D helps your body to absorb dietary calcium, which works to keep your bones dense and strong.
As mentioned previously, a good diet is often associated with weight loss. This can be true, but did you know that weight loss can help your feet too? Your feet support the weight of your entire body, so when you carry extra weight, your feet suffer the consequences. Eating a balanced diet and cutting out fatty or sugary foods will help you to look and feel better and help you walk into a bright future!
Eating a balanced diet is essential to your overall health and your foot health. So, take the time to incorporate healthy and nutritious foods into your meals. If you have questions about how to further improve your foot health, contact Dr. Daniel Dean for his expert advice!
Dr. Daniel Dean is a fellowship-trained foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeon. He treats all musculoskeletal pathologies of the foot and ankle in adolescent and adult patients. He has specialized training in total ankle arthroplasty, sports injuries, flatfoot, complex fractures, and minimally invasive techniques in bunion correction.
