Your Feet and a High Protein Diet

We are inundated these days with all kinds of diets and ways to eat to keep us fit and healthy. It can be hard to weed through them all and know which ones are good and worth doing. Protein is a “hot” word in the health world but it really is essential and believe it or not, it can also affect your feet.

Dr. Jeff Bowman is a foot specialist in Houston, TX who cares about the whole health of his patients. Diets often play a big role when it comes to keeping feet healthy and too much protein on a regular basis can specifically affect feet. If you have been experiencing joint pain and inflammation, it is worth taking a look at your protein intake.

Protein is important, as your body needs it to produce and repair cells. It is recommended that adult women take in 46 g of protein daily and men take in 56 g daily. Every gram of protein contains 4 calories. A diet high in protein can increase your risk of obesity and extra weight adds stress and strain on your feet. This can result in sore joints and aggravation of existing foot problems.

Gout is a very painful type of arthritis that affects the big toe joint in your foot. A diet high in protein can cause ketone levels to rise, which in turn increase the amount of uric acid in your blood. An accumulation of uric acid is what can cause a flare up of gout. If you already suffer from arthritis, eating animal proteins such as meat and eggs can increase the pain and inflammation in your joints.

If you have pain in your joints or feet and are unsure if protein is to blame, Dr. Bowman is available to help. Call our podiatric office at (713) 467-8886 or request an appointment online at www.houstonfootspecialists.com.

©2013 Jeff Bowman., All Rights Reserved

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