Better_Nutrition_September_2017

(^26) • SEPTEMBER 2017
asktheNATUROPATH/ANSWERS TO YOUR HEALTH QUESTIONS
Feet First
Natural treatments like anti-infl ammatory spices and magnetized
socks can help put an end to chronic foot pain /// BY EMILY A. KANE, ND, LAc
a:
The average person takes 10,000
steps per day, and most of us will
experience foot pain at some time during
our lives, especially women. Women have
wider hips than knees, which puts stress
on the inner (medial) knee and tends to
cause pronation (rolling the foot inward).
Women are also more likely to wear heels,
: My feet hurt all the time. I can’t play sports or even take walks, and
I’m concerned my fitness will evaporate. Help! —Helen E., Nashville, Tenn.
Emily A. Kane, ND,
LAc, has a private
naturopathic practice
in Juneau, Alaska,
where she lives with
her husband and
daughter. She is the
author of two books
on natural health,
including Managing
Menopause Naturally.
Visit her online at
dremilykane.com.
which cause the Achilles tendon to tighten
and may lead to plantar fasciitis.
Treating Plantar Fascitis
If you have heel pain, you may have
plantar fasciitis. If pain lasts longer that
three weeks you should see your health
care provider. That said, a program of deep
gentle stretching of the Achilles tendon
(stand on the edge of a step and allow one
heel at a time to hang over) should resolve
pain within a few weeks. If not, consider
neuroprolotherapy, a technique similar to
acupuncture that can be quite eff ective
for stubborn heel pain. Also try a no-sugar,
low-red-meat diet with lots of colorful
veggies plus turmeric, ginger, cayenne, and
essential fatty acids. Stay hydrated, and
take digestive enzymes
twice daily on an
empty stomach to
break down debris
of injured tissue.
And don’t
neglect your feet
as part of your
daily hygiene.
Keep them clean
and dry, and mois-
turize as you would
the rest of your skin.
Cut your toenails
across the top (not in a
curved line) to minimize
the risk of ingrown toenails.
The Best Shoes & Inserts
An easy way to prevent one common
cause of foot pain is to shop for shoes
in the afternoon, rather than in the
morning, as feet tend to swell slightly
during the day. It’s also likely that one of
your feet is larger than the other, so buy
shoes to fi t the larger foot.
In general, feet are happier in fl at, wide,
fl exible shoes. This includes hiking and
sports shoes. The human body does best
when the foot can move in response to the
terrain. We are designed to hike in uneven
terrain. Stiff -soled boots and arch support
are often recommended, but going without
this “support” can actually prevent injuries,
especially ankle sprains.
This isn’t to say that orthotics aren’t
helpful. They defi nitely can be. And
supportive socks can reduce swelling
and varicosities. Jobst is a good brand
for support socks, and I especially like
SensiFoot socks to invigorate circulation.
My favorite over-the-counter orthotics
for high-impact activities are SUPERFeet,
available at most outdoor gear stores.
Toe spacers and all sorts of soft, wooly
pads designed for foot ailments are avail-
able at hapad.com. Neuroma pads can ease
that pain while you address the underlying
problem, which usually stems from shoes
that are too narrow, and thus pinch the
foot bones together, entrapping a nerve.
Some people also get immense relief from
magnetic therapy. Magnetized socks
designed to be worn to bed are an eff ort-
less way to treat foot pain in your sleep.
One of my favorite health habits is to
walk every morning in ankle-deep cold
water for one minute. This not only causes
rebound circulation to the entire body,
but also acts as a profound tonic to the
feet. It’s a really great way to start the day
(after skin brushing).