We are all very aware of the effects that a bad diet can have on our heart, our blood pressure or our weight but have you ever stopped to think about what the foods we eat could be doing to your feet?
A new survey1 by Footner Exfoliating Socks revealed that nearly half of Brits (46%) don’t think that diet can affect the health of your feet and toenails when, in fact, what we put into our body literally can affect everything from our head to our toes.
Here, expert podiatrist Dina Gohill shares five ways you can eat your way to healthy feet.
“Your feet, just like any other part of your body, contain bones, muscles, ligaments and blood vessels so it’s important we take care of them.”
- EAT WELL FOR HEALTHY FEET – AVOID REFINED SUGARS
“Biscuits, white bread, sweets and chocolate will cause inflammation in the body which can aggravate ligaments and tendons and exacerbate conditions like arthritis. In addition, nail fungus feeds off sugar so if you are suffering from an on-going infection stick to wholegrain carbohydrates like brown rice, brown bread and just allow yourself to indulge in refined carbs on occasions.”
- EAT WELL FOR HEALTHY FEET – UP YOUR PROTEIN
“If you do have a diet that is high in refined sugars, then try to add extra protein which not only helps to support muscle repair (which is very much needed as our feet carry us everyday!) but protein sources like beans, legumes, lean meats and omega-3 rich foods such as oily fish and nuts (try walnuts) which have been shown to reduce inflammation. Trust me, your feet will thank you!”
- EAT WELL FOR HEALTHY FEET – EAT YOUR GREENS
“Nearly one fourth of the body’s bones are in our feet and calcium plays a huge role in keeping our skeletal system strong. Ensure you get the recommended daily allowance of calcium through consumption of milk, natural yoghurt and leafy green vegetables like spinach and broccoli. In addition, vitamin D can help with the absorption of calcium, so make sure you’re getting enough of that too. In the UK it is advised we take a vitamin D supplement because it can be hard to get the recommended requirement through diet alone.”
- EAT WELL FOR HEALTHY FEET – STAY HYDRATED
“We all know that being hydrated is the key to feeling our best – and most people can notice a huge difference in their mood, concentration, and energy levels when they haven’t drunk enough. And this is no different for our feet. Ultimately, more water means better blood flow which is extremely important for our feet as they are the furthest away from the heart. Better circulation will help reduce cramps and swelling as well as the risk of conditions like gout as it flushes out toxins from our system.”
- EAT WELL FOR HEALTHY FEET B ON TOP OF DIABETES
“We know that diabetes is closely linked to greater risk of foot problems and complications2 so if you have the condition then vitamin B should be an essential in your diet. This vitamin helps to protect muscle function, preventing cellular damage and keeping cells strong. Foods that are rich in vitamin B include fish, poultry and eggs and if you’re veggie or vegan then wholegrain cereals, oranges and chickpeas are great meat substitutes. Alongside this, it’s vital that people with diabetes take good care of their feet (moisturise every day with a specific foot cream containing urea – try CCS Foot Care Cream) and check them regularly”
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