What You Eat Affects Your Foot Health

/
Cereal_Breakfast_Meal_Food_Bowl_Nutrition_Fruit_Banana_Diet_Eating_Table_Healthy_Fiber_898073_S_.jpg

March is National Nutrition Month, and all of us at Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center are focusing on some questions and ideas about what we put into our bodies. Our board-certified podiatrists - Dr. Samantha Boyd, Dr. Hal Ornstein, Dr. Dan Phan, and Dr. Joseph Saka - focus on caring for the feet and ankles. For the most part, we only enter the scene when there’s something wrong. It would be best if you had a podiatrist to treat a broken toe, a painful bunion, or a diabetic ulcer that won’t heal.

But you play an enormous role in your foot care as well. One of the best things you can do for your feet is to eat properly! All the nutrients your body needs are precisely the nutrients your feet and ankles crave, too. Proper nutrition helps keep your lower limbs in top shape.

But what is proper nutrition? Here are some answers from a podiatrist’s perspective:

  • Your diet must contain enough calcium. That amount depends on gender and age, so speak with your doctor about what’s enough for you. An adequate amount of calcium ensures proper bone growth and strength.

  • Our body doesn’t absorb calcium well unless it has enough vitamin D.  Both nutrients work together to maintain strong, healthy bones and muscles.

  • What you eat daily is extremely important. Meals or snacks should consist of foods that are nutrient-dense and low in calories. Aim to eat minimally processed foods like fresh fruits and vegetables in their natural state, lean protein such as chicken, lentils, and other legumes, as well as whole grains like brown rice and quinoa. Plain Greek yogurt is an excellent snack because it’s high in protein and plays the calcium card!

Yes, you may have an accident that damages your ankle. Yes, you may have a family history that more or less dooms you to develop a toe deformity. But you can still do a lot to protect your lower limbs from harm. Start with proper nutrition to keep your foot and ankle structures happy, get regular exercise, wear shoes that fit well, and don’t delay seeing us whenever you have foot or ankle pain. Contact us online or call us at (732) 905-1110 for an appointment at our offices in Howell and Jackson (Monmouth County), New Jersey.