Category: Nutrition

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Healthy Food Choices Keep Your Feet Happy

woman in supermarket shopping for healthy food

Most of us are either unaware or choose to ignore the link between the food choices we make and the health of our feet. In recognition of National Nutrition Month, the experts at Step by Step Family Foot Care would like to reinforce the importance of a nutritious diet as a way to keep your feet healthy and performing at their optimal level.

Here are a few tips to consider when you are finalizing your menu:

  • Go green! Eat various leafy vegetables to provide you with the necessary nutrients to strengthen your immune system and keep you healthy. Spinach, kale, soybeans are good sources of calcium and vitamin D.
  • Fill your plate with colors. Consuming a combination of produce, along with seasonal fruits and vegetables, will give your body a holistic boost. Not only will this replenish all your nutrient requirements, but you will feel fresh and upbeat.
  • Go nuts! Delight your taste buds with a range of nuts like almonds and walnuts.
  • Experiment while cooking. Explore cuisines from around the world and select all the healthy recipes. Try making new dishes at home and enjoy a family meal together.
  • Change your method of cooking. Avoid deep-fried foods as they tend to increase your cholesterol levels. You can always switch to baking or steaming for a change of taste.

Eating a nutritious diet is essential to maintain your body weight and prevent your feet from being overburdened. Excessive weight puts undue stress on your lower extremities, increasing your chances of problems like flat feet, heel and arch pain, ankle sprains, arthritis, and more.

To learn more about various health risks and their preventive measures, feel free to consult our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Debra B. Manheim. In case of pain or discomfort in your lower extremities, schedule an appointment by calling our office in Parsippany, New Jersey, at (973) 917-3785 right away.

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March Your Way to Nutritious Foods

grilled salmon

March is National Nutrition Month and we at Step by Step Family Foot Care would like to urge our patients to monitor what they eat, as that has a direct impact on the health of your feet.

Your feet carry your body weight and allow you to move around. What you eat will not only provide nutrition for your feet but will also maintain your weight, so that your feet are not overly burdened.

Dr. Debra B. Manheim has some useful tips to ensure that your feet are safe and healthy:

  • Keep moving; however, go slow and steady. It is important to exercise, make sure that your feet and ankles are flexed and stress-free before you begin. Moreover, if you are springing into action after a period of idleness, be sure to start slowly and proceed to more intense workouts gradually.
  • Use orthotic inserts to support your heels and arches. Customized orthotic inserts are more effective than over-the-counter orthotics, as they are made to fit the shape of your feet alone. Not only do they support your feet by redistributing pressure, but they also correct your posture and fix your gait.
  • Your bones need to be strong and healthy if you want your feet to be pain-free. Ensuring that your diet plan includes multi-vitamins, especially vitamin D and calcium, is integral for stronger bones.
  • Examine your feet regularly to check for any warning signs such as numbness, swelling, redness, discoloration of toenails, thickening of the skin and more. Poor circulation causes numbness and may be a sign of diabetic neuropathy. Swelling may indicate water retention or high blood pressure. Changing colors or texture of the skin and toenails is a sign of an infection that should not be ignored.

A healthy diet and a regular workout routine are ideal measures for healthy living. If you would like some more information in this regard or have any questions for any of your foot conditions, visit our office in Parsippany, NJ or contact us at (973) 917-3785 to schedule your appointment today.