Many of my older patients wish they had taken better care of their feet when they were younger. Thankfully, doctors and the health food industry are finally recognizing what many people have wanted for years: safe, natural ways to keep their feet strong and healthy. The safest, simplest way to keep your feet healthy throughout life is already in your kitchen: water.
Water regulates temperature and metabolism, delivers electrolytes to muscles and lubricates our joints. With each foot containing 33 joints and depending on 19 muscles, even slight dehydration can cause your feet to cramp and fatigue. I recommend drinking eight glasses of water a day. Caffeinated and alcoholic beverages can actually cause dehydration. Drinking water, not only for your feet, but also for your whole body, should be common sense, yet at any time, 75 percent of Americans are mildly dehydrated.
Moderate or severe lack of water can make feet cold and more vulnerable to infection. Dehydration can also make toenails brittle and the skin of our feet dry.
Dry skin may not seem like a big problem, but on the feet, dry skin can crack and develop deep, painful fissures that are at risk for infection. However, dry skin on the feet may indicate more than just a lack of moisture. If your feet have severe or persisting dry skin, you should see a podiatrist. The best way to soothe dry skin is with moisturizers and applying vitamin A, D and E.
You can put these on your feet separately, mix a concoction or buy a vitamin-enriched cream. Read the ingredients and avoid products containing alcohol or alcohol derivatives, which actually dry skin. Surprisingly, alcohol is common in many so-called moisturizers. Dry, irritated skin also responds to foot powder, particularly when the powder is enriched with zinc or menthol.
