Foot health - It is important
Most people don’t think much about their feet, but they are more important than you think. You may be surprised to know that your feet contain roughly a quarter of all the bones in your body and also support more than 60 joints and 200 muscles, tendons, and ligaments holding them all together. Your feet carry all your body weight, supporting you for an active life.
Many people live day after day with sore feet and don’t do much about it. If you have another body ache daily, you will usually do something about it, but many people ignore foot pain. People with diabetes are not the only ones who should worry about their feet. Your feet can go through a lot of wear and tear, leading to bigger problems later. If you can’t walk or stand comfortably, you are more likely to become less active, affecting your overall wellness.
Other conditions that can affect your feet are inflammation and obesity. Inflammation can affect your foot health. Certain foods can increase chemicals in your body that cause tissue inflammation and pain in the band of tissue that runs across the bottom of your feet. Some of the foods that contain inflammation causing chemicals include refined grains, sugar, trans-fats, the saturated fats in red meats, and the omega-6 fats found in vegetable, corn, soybean and sunflower oils. Inflammation can also be caused by chronic allergies to food, or eating too many foods that cause a high and rapid rise in blood sugars. Good nutrition can help protect your feet.
Because your feet must bear the weight of your entire body throughout the day, being overweight can cause painful foot problems. Even 25 extra pounds can cause pain in your feet. The things you can do to keep your feet healthy include:
- Eat less sugar
- Eat more green vegetables, fish, and fresh foods
- Increase your Omega-3 fats intake
- Have your feet measured regularly to make sure you are wearing the proper size shoe
- Lose weight if you are 25 pounds or more over your ideal weight
- Keep your feet clean and dry
- and rest!
If your feet hurt every day or get very painful for long periods of time, look at your health and lifestyle and see if there are any changes you can make to relieve the pain, such as buying new shoes or looking at what you are eating. If you are still having problems, consult with your physician or refer to a podiatrist who specializes in conditions of the feet.
Many people live day after day with sore feet and don’t do much about it. If you have another body ache daily, you will usually do something about it, but many people ignore foot pain. People with diabetes are not the only ones who should worry about their feet. Your feet can go through a lot of wear and tear, leading to bigger problems later. If you can’t walk or stand comfortably, you are more likely to become less active, affecting your overall wellness.
Other conditions that can affect your feet are inflammation and obesity. Inflammation can affect your foot health. Certain foods can increase chemicals in your body that cause tissue inflammation and pain in the band of tissue that runs across the bottom of your feet. Some of the foods that contain inflammation causing chemicals include refined grains, sugar, trans-fats, the saturated fats in red meats, and the omega-6 fats found in vegetable, corn, soybean and sunflower oils. Inflammation can also be caused by chronic allergies to food, or eating too many foods that cause a high and rapid rise in blood sugars. Good nutrition can help protect your feet.
Because your feet must bear the weight of your entire body throughout the day, being overweight can cause painful foot problems. Even 25 extra pounds can cause pain in your feet. The things you can do to keep your feet healthy include:
- Eat less sugar
- Eat more green vegetables, fish, and fresh foods
- Increase your Omega-3 fats intake
- Have your feet measured regularly to make sure you are wearing the proper size shoe
- Lose weight if you are 25 pounds or more over your ideal weight
- Keep your feet clean and dry
- and rest!
If your feet hurt every day or get very painful for long periods of time, look at your health and lifestyle and see if there are any changes you can make to relieve the pain, such as buying new shoes or looking at what you are eating. If you are still having problems, consult with your physician or refer to a podiatrist who specializes in conditions of the feet.
Published: June 22, 2011
