Celebrate National Nutrition Month in March
There are so many proactive steps you can take to stay healthy and prevent illness. Perhaps none of them is more effective than good nutrition. March is National Nutrition Month and a great opportunity for Cook County podiatrist Dr. Stavros O. Alexopoulos to remind you about some of the ways that a carefully-considered diet can help keep you on your feet.
What should I eat?
A healthy diet should include plenty of options from the following list:
- lean protein such as white, flaky fish, and chicken
- whole grains
- colorful fruits and vegetables
- low-fat, calcium-rich dairy foods
Be aware of how much you’re eating and keep portions modest. Limit your intake of alcohol, sugary beverages, high-fat or salty snacks, and sweets. Be sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
How will a healthy diet affect my foot health?
Your smart food choices can affect foot health in many ways. You will reduce your risk of diabetes, hypertension, and peripheral arterial disease (PAD), all of which can affect circulation and damage the feet. It will reduce the stress on the joints of the feet and ankles, and you may enjoy a corresponding reduction in the discomfort caused by arthritis or flat feet.
Ensuring you take in plenty of calcium daily will reduce your risk of osteoporosis, a dangerous weakening of the bones, and a contributor to fractures of the tiny bones in the feet. Foods containing calcium include not only the dairy items listed above, but also dark, leafy greens and sardines, anchovies, and other fish with their bones intact.
Will a healthy diet protect my foot health?
A healthy diet alone is not enough to protect foot health. For maximum benefit, you should combine your smart choices with daily exercise. You can go to the gym if that’s something you enjoy but remember: all exercise is good exercise. Call a friend or whistle for the dog and take a walk around the block. Your cardiovascular health will benefit, as will the bones, muscles, and soft tissues of your feet, ankles, and lower legs.
Finally, see a foot doctor regularly. Your podiatrist is a medical expert and the best-qualified doctor to care for this part of your body.
Call the friendly My Chicago Foot Expert staff at (773) 561-8100 or click here to schedule an appointment with Cook County podiatrist Stavros O. Alexopoulos, DPM, in our modern, comfortable Ravenswood office today.
