3 Reasons to Celebrate Good Nutrition

At NY Foot Health, we invite all our patients to improve foot health by joining us in celebrating National Nutrition Month. Many people don’t make the connection between what they eat and their feet. Below are three ways that a nutritious food plan can positively impact your podiatric health.

Attain and Maintain a Healthy Weight—carrying excess pounds and the other changes that occur within your body when you consume a diet high in unhealthy fats and sugars can have a devastating effect on your feet. Being overweight can cause many common foot problems or make them much worse. Some of these are:

Choose nutritionally dense foods such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains to fill up most of your plate. Make satisfying swaps for empty calorie snacks such as low-fat Greek yogurt with fruit for pudding or ice cream and baked crackers with hummus instead of potato chips and onion dip. If you are very overweight or obese, consult a nutritionist for a plan to lose weight in a healthy way that will work for you.

Decrease Inflammation—conditions that end in “itis” indicate that inflammation is the source of pain and discomfort. For your feet this includes: arthritis, sesamoiditis, tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, bursitis. Inflammation can be reduced or aggravated by the foods you eat. Known inflammation busters include: berries, spinach, salmon, almonds, olive oil, oranges, tomatoes and kale. Foods that can trigger an inflammatory response and should be avoided are: added sugars, trans fats, refined carbohydrates (think white bread, crackers, white rice and sugary cereals) and omega 6 fatty acids found in mayonnaise, corn, canola and peanut oils.

Enjoy an Active Lifestyle—from walking to hiking to dancing to chasing grandchildren your active lifestyle means doing all the physical activities you enjoy. The proper diet can give you the energy you need and help you decrease fatigue. Lean meats, eggs, Brazil nuts, bananas, blueberries, chickpeas and Greek yogurt are all good sources of protein and long-lasting carbohydrates. The more active you are the better able you are to maintain a healthy weight and fight against conditions such as heart disease, hypertension and diabetes—all of which can do great harm to your feet.

If you have questions about your diet and your feet, ask your podiatrist. Don’t currently have one? Locate one with our online directory. Learn more about lifestyle choices and your feet by contacting us and subscribing to our free e-newsletter.

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