Believe it or not, nutrition can have a big impact on the health of your feet. Foot health is very important. It affects how you get around after all. You should take care of your feet in every way that you can. This includes eating the right foods. Your eating habits can affect your foot health in a variety of ways. It can involve blood sugar in the case of diabetic neuropathy. Or, it may involve getting enough minerals like calcium. No matter the circumstance, it’s easy to conclude that eating healthy can affect the health of your feet.
Nutrition refers to the process of obtaining healthy foods. What you eat affects the entirety of your body, including your feet. Your body obtains calories through eating. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have the energy to walk or run. You get a lot of necessary vitamins and minerals from eating. These things make it possible for your body to function properly. Eating something that is bad for you affects your health as well. Unhealthy foods can cause chronic conditions like obesity and diabetes. Eating too much or not enough can have very serious consequences on your health. Overall, nutrition plays a very significant part in your health, from your head to your toes.
Foot Health
Foot health is determined by a lot of things. Age, sex, and exercise can all affect the quality of your foot health. Nutrition is no different. Nutrition can impact your foot health by causing you to gain weight if you eat certain things. When you gain a lot of weight, you run the risk of becoming obese. Obesity refers to an excess of body fat that can cause a lot of health problems. Some of the health problems caused by obesity affect your feet.
Some foot conditions are caused by stress on the foot. When you’re overweight, you put more pressure on your foot with each step. Over time, you run the risk of developing foot problems as a result of this stress. Plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, and tendonitis can all be caused by obesity.
Eating healthy reduces your risk of being obese. Focusing on your nutrition in this way can ultimately reduce your risk of developing these painful foot conditions. Food-related foot problems can also be caused by diabetes.
Diabetes & Foot Health
Diabetes is a complex disease that is influenced by things like genetics, activity level, and nutrition. For some people, eating poorly can increase their risk of developing diabetes. Diabetes affects how your body processes sugar, making it very closely related to nutrition. If you have diabetes, the way you eat affects your blood sugar which in turn affects your diabetes symptoms.
Over time, diabetes can cause nerve damage in the feet. This is referred to as “diabetic neuropathy”. Diabetic neuropathy might start with mild symptoms, but it can have very serious complications. When your feet are numb, you may not notice cuts or wounds. This opens up the possibility of more severe issues as these cuts are more likely to get infected when they go unnoticed. Diabetic neuropathy also reduces the amount of blood flowing to your feet, also increasing the chance of an infection. In some cases, diabetic neuropathy can even lead to gangrene. This very serious disease can cause someone to lose their foot or leg, It can even be deadly.
It’s very important to eat right, especially if you’re diabetic. When your symptoms get out of control, you increase the chance of developing serious problems like diabetic neuropathy. Take care of your feet by taking care of your nutrition. If not, you may risk losing a limb or even your life.
Foot Inflammation
Many foot conditions involve inflammation. Gout is one of the most common forms of foot inflammation. Gout happens when uric acid crystals form in the joints. These crystals are painful, often resulting in a lot of inflammation and swelling. Nutrition has a huge impact on the amount of uric acid you create. Eating too much sugar, drinking too much alcohol, and being obese all increase the risk of developing gout. Gout can also be caused by eating a lot of purines. Purines can be found in a lot of red meats and seafood.
Arthritis, heel spurs, and other foot diseases are caused by inflammation. Certain foods can increase your chance of inflammation. When you eat these foods, your muscles can be inflamed which makes symptoms of these conditions worse. Avoiding foods that cause inflammation can reduce some of these symptoms. In the case of gout, avoiding certain foods has a significant impact on your symptoms. If you’re having foot inflammation, try avoiding sugar, alcohol, red meats, and seafood.
Osteoporosis
Good nutrition even affects your bone health. Consuming plenty of calcium can reduce your likelihood of developing conditions like osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition in which your bones are very fragile. Making sure your body has enough calcium builds strong, healthy bones. Eating healthy in general can lower the risk of breaking a bone as a result of osteoporosis.
Foot and Food
Nutrition affects every part of your body, including your feet. Take care of your feet by taking care of your nutrition. Eating healthy can prevent serious complications from diabetes. If not properly managed, diabetic neuropathy can be deadly. What you eat can also affect your weight. Over time, obesity can cause significant wear on your joints. This stress can cause a number of problems that involve a lot of pain and difficulty walking.
Some foot conditions are caused by inflammation that can be made worse based on your diet. Things like gout can be managed or even avoided by maintaining a healthy diet. If not, symptoms can worsen or come back often. Eating a nutritious diet makes sure that every part of your body is getting what it needs, including your bones. Nutrition can prevent broken bones from osteoporosis by making sure your bones are strong and full of calcium.
When you aren’t sure how to manage your foot health, visit the experts at Foot and Ankle Specialists of Illinois. We understand how to treat your feet right.
