In honor of National Nutrition Month, we at Syracuse Podiatry are writing about the foods that cause us foot pain, specifically when it comes to inflammatory diseases like arthritis and tendonitis. While we usually blame our shoes or our workout routines for foot pain, what you eat can either act as a natural medicine or as fuel for the fire of these foot conditions.
Inflammation and Your Feet
When you injure your foot, inflammation helps the healing process. However, a diet high in processed foods can cause this alarm to stay on indefinitely.
If your daily meals include a lot of refined sugars, white flour, and seed oils, you are increasing the levels of pro-inflammatory markers in your blood. For someone already struggling with plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendonitis, these foods make the tissue more sensitive and slower to heal.
Arthritis and Tendonitis
The good news is that you have the power to lower the temperature of that inflammation through your food choices. If you are dealing with arthritis in your ankle or midfoot, your goal should be to eat to lubricate your joints and calm the surrounding soft tissue.
You should reach for anti-inflammatory super foods like fatty fish, walnuts, and turmeric. These are packed with omega-3s and antioxidants that help neutralize the chemical triggers of pain.
Pro tip: Instead of reaching for a sugary snack, try a handful of berries. The dark pigments in blueberries and cherries are powerful natural tools that help flush out the waste that builds up in your joints, which will reduce some of that stiffness that comes with age or overuse.
Why Hydration Matters for Your Tendons
Your tendons are mostly made of water and collagen, which is why when you are dehydrated, these tissues become brittle and less elastic. This makes you much more susceptible to the micro-tears that lead to tendonitis (especially young athletes who don’t take their water intake seriously).
Drinking enough water is the simplest way for you to keep your internal shock absorbers working correctly. Combined with a diet rich in vitamin C, you are giving your body the stuff it needs to repair the collagen in your feet.
Diet and Your Foot Health
This March, try to view your grocery cart as your step against chronic pain. By swapping out pro-inflammatory processed foods for whole, nutrient-dense options, you’ll be on your way to preventing (or improving) many inflammatory foot conditions we at Syracuse routinely treat.
For advice related to any podiatric concerns you’re facing, the expert team at Syracuse Podiatry is here to help guide you. Contact us today so Dr. Ryan L. D’Amico, Dr. Donal M. Erickson, Dr. Keith Sherman, and Dr. Nicholas Cronin can elevate your foot health and help your feet feel their best.