Beware These 5 Enemies of Your Feet

We all know that eating healthy foods and getting regular exercise is good for us. We read it every day and heard it from our families growing up. “Eat your vegetables!” “Go play!”- classic Mom-speak, right? Well, Mom was right, of course, but what she didn’t tell you is how much your two feet benefit from a healthy lifestyle.

Feet have real enemies that we can narrow down to 5 basic categories:

1. Lack of Vitamin D and Calcium                                                                                                                                                                 Low levels of both of these nutrients can have devastating effects on your bones. Proper levels of vitamin D and calcium encourage bone growth, which is essential in children and anyone recovering from a broken bone. Inadequate levels of calcium in your diet can lead to osteoporosis (thinning of the bones) later in life, putting you in danger of bone fractures and falling. Small cracks in the bones of your foot are often the first indication that a person has osteoporosis.
2. Obesity                                                                                                                                                                                                               Your feet bear a lot the stress from any extra weight that you carry around, and that can lead to things like heel pain, flat feet, arthritis, and stress fractures in bones that just can’t handle the weight. Obesity is a major risk factor for getting the next big enemy…
3. Diabetes                                                                                                                                                                                                       Uncontrolled diabetes can cause a slew of problems with your feet including nerve damage and wounds that are slow to heal.
4.  A Rich Diet                                                                                                                                                                                                             If your diet is heavy on red meat, rich sauces, seafood, and alcohol or you don’t drink enough water, you are at risk for having gout. Gout usually presents as extreme pain in one of your big toes and is famous for repeated attacks, putting a lot of stress on your toe joints. A diet rich in vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and fresh fruits will help prevent a lot of foot enemies – weight gain, diabetes and gout.
5. Lack of exercise                                                                                                                                                                                          Regular exercise is a great way to maintain a healthy weight and avoid diseases that threaten feet. Exercise helps keep your muscles strong and your whole body flexible, so even if you do take a tumble, you’re less likely to hurt yourself with a severe ankle sprain or fractured foot.

Avoid these 5 basic foot enemies and you’ll improve your chances for excellent health. Your foot and ankle health are our primary concern here at Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland. Ask Dr. Craig B. Frey or Dr. Megan L. Oltmann about more tips to conquer foot enemies by making an appointment online or by calling us at our podiatry office in Solon, OH at (440) 903-1041.