Remember when you were a kid, and you learned rhymes to help you remember something important? “Sticks and stones will break my bones…” and “Early to bed early to rise…” come to mind. Here’s another one that resonates today in the midst of the global spread of coronavirus: “Wash, wash, wash! Wash every day! Wash, wash, wash! Wash the germs away!” Today, we at Montgomery Foot Care Specialists want to offer a couple of catchy rhymes to make an important connection that you may never have thought of before:

1. Eating right helps you stand upright!
2. The food you eat will nourish your feet!

March is National Nutrition Month, which is a great time to reflect upon the food-foot connection. Good nutrition is a gift to your feet. They repay that gift with strong bones, healthy tissues, unrestricted blood flow, and hydrated skin. Here are some ways to eat right, recommended by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics:

• Eat a variety of foods. Another way to think about this is to “eat the rainbow.” Get all the nutrients your body craves by varying the kinds and colors of foods you eat.
• Practice portion control to help you maintain a healthy weight.
• Learn to read Nutrition Facts labels. Doing so helps you control your intake of sodium, fat, protein, and more.
• Hydrate healthfully by getting plenty of water. Avoid sugary sodas and too much caffeine.
• Take the time to enjoy your food. Eating mindfully helps you balance your food intake.
• Plan your meals. Shop and cook ahead, so you’re not just grabbing whatever’s handy.
• Be menu-savvy when you eat out. Avoid foods with descriptions like “crunchy,” “deep-fried,” “breaded,” or even “rich.”

Your feet have a much better chance of staying healthy when you nourish them with good foods and avoid packing on pounds that can cause plantar fasciitis and diabetes-related foot problems. Whenever foot pain does strike, treat it promptly for best results. Call (334) 396-3668 for an appointment with expert foot doctors Heidi M. Christie, DPM, and Chanda L. Day-Houts, DPM at our office in Montgomery (Montgomery County), Alabama.