Could What You’re Eating Cause You Foot Pain?
We all know that your holiday meal can cause an upset stomach, but did you know that it can also cause foot problems?
Do you ever get pain in your big toe joint after eating a steak?
If this situation sounds familiar, you may be experiencing some of the symptoms of Gout.
You’re thinking, really? Yes, really.
Symptoms triggered by food include edema, which according to the Cleveland Clinic is swelling when fluid gets trapped in your body’s tissues.
We typically associate the foods we eat with heart health, but what we put into our mouths affects all parts of our body, all the way down to our feet.
What kind of foot pain and conditions are triggered by foods?
- Diseases of Inflammation such as Gout and Arthritis
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Diabetes-related foot pain such as peripheral arterial disease and neuropathy.
- Allergies
- Osteoporosis
- Weight gain
How Do Foods Cause Foot Pain?
Certain foods can cause inflammation
Many different types of foods can cause inflammation in our bodies. Inflammation is the defense mechanism in our bodies that helps stop the growth of abnormal cells, promotes healing injured tissue, and signals cells to fight off viral and bacterial infections.
Foods that can be inflammation triggers:
- Refined sugar and refined grains.
- Trans fats often found in commercial baked goods and junk food.
- Omega-6 fats found in many commonly used vegetable oils, such as corn, soybean, and sunflower oils
- Salt
- Alcohol
Foods that help reduce inflammation:
- Salmon and mackerel
- Flax Seeds and Chia Seeds
- Walnuts
- Edamame
- Kidney Beans
- Green vegetables
According to St. Luke’s Hospital, certain vegetables can reduce swelling. Naturally, diuretic vegetables such as asparagus, beets, pineapple, pumpkin, and garlic may help flush out swelling.
The Mayo Clinic writes a great article on “How to use food to help your body fight inflammation,” and discusses how foods can help or hurt your body.
Weight Gain
Your feet bear the pressure of your entire body, especially when walking, excess body weight can increase your chances of having foot pain.
The University Foot and Ankle Institute informs us that being overweight can affect your feet and ankles, “There’s no doubt that many of us carry extra weight on our frames, so the number of people who are dealing with this is pretty huge. UFAI’s Dr. Bob Baravarian is serious about this issue. ““Many people don’t realize how being overweight can impact their feet. It only takes only one pound of extra weight to add 10 pounds of additional pressure on your feet and ankles. So if you could stand to lose 10 pounds off your waistline, can you imagine how much better your feet would feel!””
Disease
Diabetes, osteoporosis, gout, and other arthritic conditions have food triggers. Research indicates that neuropathy related pain is sometimes caused by vitamin B deficiency and can often be successfully treated with supplements such as our Intrinsix Nerve Health Support Dietary Mineral Vitamin Supplement.
Osteoporosis is associated with an increased risk of fractures, and one of the first signs of the disease is often a stress fracture in the foot. Increasing your dietary intake of calcium and vitamin D can decrease the risk of a fracture, as can other lifestyle changes like regular exercise. But remember that saturated fats, which are found in full-fat dairy products, are on the list of things that can increase inflammation.
If you suspect that your foot pain may be caused by diet a combination of the following may help:
- Decrease sodium, saturated fat, sugar, and trans fats.
- Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables.
Regulation of food is crucial to managing and controlling foot pain if you have any of these conditions listed above. Party wisely to feel your best.
As you can see, regulation of food plays a major factor in many areas of our life but can also play a role in the pain we have in our feet.
Remember to eat mindfully to stay on your feet with ease and comfort!
Happy holidays!