Health and Wellness

Best Foot Forward: How to Take Care of Your Foot Health (It’s More Important Than You Think!)

Foot Health

What’s the best exercise for your feet?

Walking!

When you walk your feet go through a full range of motion. On average Americans walk about 3-4,000 steps a day, which works out to be about 1.5 to 2 miles. However, healthy adults should be aiming to walk at least 10,000 steps a day.

If you don’t think you’re getting enough steps in, start looking for little ways to walk more. For instance, you can park far away from the grocery store, or choose the stairs instead of the elevator.

What other ways can you put your best foot forward? Read on to find out!

Invest in Proper Footwear

Buying shoes that support your feet is the first step towards putting your best foot forward. To be sure you’re making the right purchase, you’ll want to wait until mid-afternoon to go shoe shopping. During the day your feet naturally expand, and they can also swell if the weather’s hot.

You can also get a more precise fit by wearing the socks you normally wear with the new shoes you’re trying on. Next, we suggest you have the salesperson measure both of your feet to see if one foot is larger or wider than the other. If one foot is bigger, it’s best to buy a size that will accommodate the larger foot.

When you’re trying on a pair of shoes, stand up and check to see if you have at least a quarter-inch of space between the end of the shoe and your longest toe. For the best fit, ½ inch between the longest toe and shoe end usually works great. Finally, walk around the store to see how the shoes feel.

Do you have enough room for the balls of your feet? Are the heels falling off, or do they fit nicely?

You should like the way the shoes feel on your feet, the first time you wear them, not when they’re broken in. Always look for shoes that fit from the start.

Best Footwear for Around the House

After getting a good pair of walking shoes, you should also look into getting supportive footwear for around the house. For instance, you can put your best foot forward with arch support therapeutic slippers. There are all sorts of different slipper styles to choose from too, ranging from moccasins to fuzzy house slippers.

Pamper Your Feet

Moving on, every day you should wash your feet at least once. However, instead of just cleaning your feet, you can keep them extra soft and healthy by pampering them too! Here are a few ways you can pamper your feet:

  • Foot Soak
  • Foot Mask
  • Self Massage
  • Essential Oils
  • Moisturizing Feet Products

All it takes is 5-10 minutes of self-care every night for your feet to be healthier than ever before. Whenever you’re washing your feet, pay special attention when you’re drying between your toes. Any moisture left between the toes can cause fungus to grow. 

Tackle Fungus Don’t Hide It

Are you dealing with foot fungus? You’re not alone! At least 5% of Americans have to deal with fungal infections on their feet. It makes sense too considering how sweaty your feet can get. Each of your feet has over 250,000 sweat glands, and they can create half a pint of moisture every single day.

To be proactive about your foot health, when you’re washing your feet at night, take a moment to inspect each toenail for signs of fungus. Toenail fungus usually starts as a yellow or white spot under the toenail. Over time the fungus can cause the toenail to become thicker than normal, while also warping its shape.

The moment you notice fungus you’ll want to schedule an appointment with your doctor. While there are over the counter fungus medications, they’re usually not very effective. Instead, you’ll need a prescription medication to help you get rid of the fungus, once and for all.

Protect Your Feet in Public Showers

Earlier we talked about the importance of walking shoes, and around the house shoes. However, if you’re planning on using a public shower, you’ll also need to buy a simple pair of shower shoes. Here are a few of the risks that showers present to your feet:

  • Viral infections
  • Bacterial infections
  • Fungal infections

Viruses such as HPV live in the top layer of their host’s skin. When people shed their skin in the shower, you can wind up catching viruses like HPV by stepping on the dead skin. Thankfully, you can protect your feet using flip flops, or sandals.

As long as the sole of your foot isn’t touching the floor you’ll be good. Also, you should sanitize, and dry your shower shoes after every use to avoid bacteria growth.

Stretch Your Toesies

Last but not least, you should make it a routine to stretch your feet every night. Foot stretches help your feet stay flexible, and mobile, while also alleviating aches and pains. Since keeping a wide range of motion in your big toe is vital, you can start by learning how to do the big toe pull.

Sitting down, let your feet rest flat on the floor. Next, wrap a towel around your right big toe. Gently pull the towel towards you, while also pushing against it with your foot. Hold your foot with the towel for 5 seconds, and switch feet. You should do this stretch about 10 times on each foot.

Always Put Your Best Foot Forward

Are the shoes you’re wearing right now going to help you put your best foot forwards? If not, it’s time to do something about it! Go to a shoe store near you today, and start your search for a quality pair of shoes.

Remember to walk around in the shoes in the store, and don’t buy them unless they’re a perfect fit. Are you ready to learn more ways to improve your life? Then explore the rest of this site.