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November 9, 2020

Anti-Inflammatory All-Stars for Gout

This past summer, my dad, a worshipper of the sun, fell prey to a misery-inducing bout of gout. No stranger to the ailment, this time around, it derailed his plans to enjoy the heat, leaving him bedridden for much of the time. 

Gout is an inflammatory arthritic condition that inhibits movement in your joints due to an excess of uric acid in your blood. Purine is a naturally occurring chemical in your body that can also be found in foods and breaks down into uric acid (the waste substance created.) About these two things, they go hand in hand (or foot in foot) when perpetuating gout. Therefore, a gout-friendly diet that consists of low purine foods does not hold the cure, but it does help to flush the excess uric acid from your system.

Back to my dad, a man who enjoys meat and beer, it has always been a fun challenge to try to get him to adhere to a more plant-based diet that I have for nearly my whole life at this point, adhered to. The interesting correlation we share is our blood type, being A+. The Blood Type Diet suggests that a vegetarian diet is better for our type and I would attribute my diet and lifestyle choices to my ongoing good health. I have gout on my radar but do not fear the genetics if I am living with the intention of prevention. With all that being said, I did miss having a drinking buddy this past summer. 

My love language is a very nurturing one matched with my affinity for all things wellness, so naturally, I went right to the internet. Many of the diet choices he was already aware of due to his medical history, but it is the consistency of the ‘bad’ habits that brought gout back on, so it was time to balance it out with the good. He is still struggling, though is far more mobile at this point. No doubt the flushing of the excess uric acid at a consistent rate has contributed to the forward momentum. 

Water

The literal flushing of the system. Drink water all day, every day. This is a recommendation for anyone, but particularly the understanding of eliminating the acid from your system, water is key. I have heard of the value of alkaline water balancing out the acidity levels, in this scenario specifically, and this has been ongoing experimentation with some proven success.

Cherries

The darker the cherry, the better the health properties. I had a lovely conversation with an older gentleman one day who had been ingesting cherry juice for years. He was incredibly agile, still boxing for exercise, with a gorgeous complexion, and well into his 80’s, so I was taking in everything he was saying. He told the story of sending cherry juice from the local seller (we had in common, which started our chat) and sending it to his nephew in Florida who was going through chemotherapy to take daily. His nephew is now cancer-free. 

Fresh ripe black cherries background Top view Close up

Pineapple

The sweet tropical fruit contains bromelain, an anti-inflammatory enzyme known to be a great stomach soother, and can often be found in natural skincare products. If bromelain can ease spastic conditions in your gut and on your skin, it is an obvious multi-functional treatment for any inflammation.

pineapple

Turmeric

Vibrant in its golden hue, delicious as a warm latte, this popular spice contains curcumin, a potent anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant. I often have a bottle of turmeric capsules in my gym bag for post-workout, and I have am a sucker for a slightly sweetened beverage.

Ginger

Like it’s pal turmeric above, ginger holds the magic properties of anti-inflammation and anti-oxidants through gingerols and shogaols, agents for effective change in our bodies. The spicy powerhouse will heat you up and heal what ails you. I always have ginger root in the fridge and sneakily have ginger candies hiding in my car for a little kick. 

Ginger

Bonus: Coffee

There are contradictory studies on the efficacy of coffee for gout sufferers. However, a cup a day has shown to be a positive reinforcement. I believe the quality of the bean and of course how you doctor up your morning cup of magic should also be considered, but it is an exciting addition to the gout-friendly diet.

Finally, the biggest lifestyle choice one can make is your attitude toward whatever health issue you are dealing with. Knowing that instilling a better mindset and taking positive action will inevitably lead to desired results and you will be able to regain your sense of freedom as you take better care of yourself. 

Looking for more help with your gout symptoms?

Though gout is a recurring ailment, it can be worked with and balanced in your system. Our chiropodists and phenomenal staff can help you on your healing journey. Our chiropodists and phenomenal staff can help you on your healing journey. Call us at 416-769-FEET(3338) and book your appointment today!

Here’s to Many More Years of Foot Care!

At Feet First Clinic, we’re always excited to welcome new clients! After a successful 12 years of treating our amazing patients, we’re ready to continue offering only the best foot care services and products. Give us a call to ask our friendly staff any questions you may have! Our Toronto foot specialists are ready to help!

Call us at 416-769-3338 or Book Your Assessment Today!

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Embracing premium leathers, cork footbeds and other natural textiles, Mephisto integrates advanced technologies into its designs to deliver optimal support and flexibility. Whether strolling through urban streets or traversing rugged terrain, Mephisto shoes offer a harmonious blend of form and function, appealing to the discerning consumer seeking quality craftsmanship and sustainable elegance. The Mephisto Izae is a casual-looking sneaker with optimal comfort, fit and a leather lining.
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Tips for Healthy Toenails: Prevention and Care
Toenail care is your shield from future foot issues. Foot conditions affecting the toenails can lead to infections, fungus, brittle and damaged nails, pain, bleeding and more. But you have the power to prevent these complications! By investing in proper footwear, learning to trim your nails properly, and more, you can take the reins on your toenail health. Let's talk toenails! Preventing Fungal Infections and Other Toenail Conditions Practice Proper Toenail Trimming It would be nice to have a professional always trim our nails for us, but sometimes we do have to do toenail care ourselves. To prevent issues or conditions, trim your nails following these two simple steps:  Use nail clippers to trim straight across (very important), avoiding curved edges. Smooth edges with a nail file if needed. Keep Your Feet Clean and Protected Fungal toenails love when you forget to care for your feet.  Make sure you always thoroughly clean and dry your feet before wearing socks and shoes. To go the extra mile and protect from skin issues, moisturize, exfoliate and use a foot file. Avoid areas where contagious fungal viruses breed and are passed along. These include public pool grounds, public showers, shared locker rooms, and more. If you frequent places like this, always wear shoes.  Pedicure safety and hygiene are also very important when it comes to prevention. Schedule medical pedicure appointments with your chiropodist instead of a cosmetic pedicure to avoid contracting a contagious fungal infection and for a more health-focused experience. Learn more about the difference between a cosmetic and medical pedicure.  Make Healthy Footwear Choices The link connecting toenail issues and footwear may seem unclear, but picture it this way: When our shoes are too tight it often means there is not enough room for the toes to spread out naturally. This can wreak havoc on your nails and you also risk annoying ingrown toenails or a cracked toenail. Always buy shoes with enough room in the toe box! Take it to the next level by looking for running shoes with mesh uppers that allow air to flow inside the shoe. This is a bonus way of keeping your toes fresh and protecting against fungal infections. Check out this handy shoe shopping checklist for even more help! Toenail Care for Pre-existing Conditions  Anti-fungal Treatments for Toenails You won’t be able to treat a current fungal infection without using antifungal products or visiting a chiropodist. Products include sprays, ointments and sometimes pills. At times, over-the-counter versions like ClearNails Pro + (available at Feet First Clinic) are enough, but other times, you’ll need a prescription for a persistent infection. Chiropodists can also perform nail debridement, which involves removing the infected part of the nail and thinning the outer layers of the toenail. This allows prescription-strength topical antifungal medication to penetrate the toenail and reach the fungus.  Treating Cracked Toenails Cracked toenails are more of a nuisance than a serious problem. But messing with your toenails in any way can still cause bleeding and pain. You may be more susceptible to cracks if your nails are weak and brittle. If you’re looking for some ways to speed up nail growth, but also to strengthen your nails as they are, try these toenail growth tips: As we've mentioned, trim nails straight across and avoid trimming too close to the skin Again, wear well-fitting shoes. Tight shoes can disrupt healthy toenail growth.  Protect toenails during physical activities.  Avoid excessive use of nail polish. While polish itself doesn’t slow growth, some types can cause toenail dehydration, making your nails more likely to crack.  Eat a balanced diet for nail health. Treating Ingrown Toenails OnyFix is a useful and modern way of treating ingrown toenails. It involves the application of a specialized corrective strip to the affected nail. Nail avulsions can also be a good idea for chronic, severe ingrown nails, and chiropodists may tackle infections using certain draining methods.  Treating Toenail Discolouration  Discoloured toenails are tricky because the colours can vary wildly. Discolouration caused by a fungal infection (green or yellow) may be treated using similar methods as fungal toenails. But if your discolouration is black, blue, purple, or red, this is probably linked to a mild blunt-force trauma injury (like dropping something on your toe). It’s best to schedule a nail care appointment to determine the culprit!
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Carolina Charles

Patient Relation Coordinator (She/Her)

If you’ve been to the clinic before, chances are you had the pleasure of meeting Carolina! Carolina’s daily goal is going above and beyond to make sure patients are always completely satisfied. Having worked in the podiatry industry for 22 years, Carolina brings a wealth of knowledge pertaining to client service, insurance policies, and procedures. She steers the ship to make sure everything runs smoothly on the daily. Carolina is known for spicing up every outfit with her signature costume jewellery.