When you pop something into your mouth, you may not think about how it affects your feet but the foods you eat can have a significant impact on your podiatric health. At Foot & Ankle Specialists, PC, we believe in a proactive approach to foot health and encourage our patients to have a healthy lifestyle, which includes good nutrition. Here are some ways that you can better care for your feet with what you eat:

Improve Bone Strength—There are 26 bones in each of your feet—that’s about a quarter of total number of bones in your body! And, the bones in your feet are carrying the weight of your whole body so it’s essential to keep them strong. Increasing your calcium intake along with Vitamin D (which helps the body process calcium) makes sense. To do this, eat foods rich in calcium (dairy products: yogurt, milk, cheese as well as certain green vegetable like bok choy and mustard greens), eat foods fortified with calcium or take a calcium supplement. Your doctor can advise you on how much calcium you need on a daily basis.

Reduce Inflammation—Did you know that inflammation in your body can increase or decrease due to the food you eat? Omega 3 fatty acids, found in salmon, mackerel and walnut oil (as well as other sources) has been shown to decrease inflammation of the joints. Vitamin C can also help, along with the antioxidants found in green tea. Sugar, red meat and refined grains have also been linked with increased inflammation. Reducing the amount of these foods in your diet can also have a positive effect on inflammatory conditions, such as plantar fasciitis and arthritis.

Decrease Stress on your Feet—Eating a healthy diet that helps you maintain a proper weight is beneficial to your feet (and the rest of your body too). People who are overweight greatly increase their risk of several foot disorders and nearly all foot and ankle problems are made worse if a patient is obese.

Know What You Need to Avoid—It’s important to know your body and its specific nutritional needs and pitfalls. Eating wheat or eggs or other foods that your body is allergic too can cause inflammation that will affect your feet. If you are prone to gout, you’ll want to avoid foods high in purines (red meat, red wine, shellfish, and organ meats).

Of course good nutrition is just one part of taking good care of your feet. If you have other questions about how to care for your feet, consult one our podiatrists, Dr. Scott E. Hughes, Dr. Greg P. Vogt, Dr. Christine I. Tumele, and Dr. Matthew W.E. Lewin at either our Monroe or Lambertville office.