Cracked Heels & Nutritional Deficiency
Dry, cracked heels are very common, usually caused by dry skin. The skin that surrounds the sides of your feet becomes dry, they crack and as a result, you have cracked heels.
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Symptoms
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Common symptoms of cracked heels are hardened skin on the outer edge of the heel, yellow or dark skin on the heel, pain in thin-soled or open-back shoes, red or flaky patches on the heel of the foot, and peeling and cracked skin.
Significance
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Interestingly, cracked heels can indicate a nutritional deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, and other vitamins and minerals.
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Prevention/Solution
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It is important for people to have a diet rich in calcium, iron, zinc and omega-3 fats. Fatty acids are not naturally produced by our bodies, so we must get them through food or supplements.
Nutrition
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Here is list of foods that can help avoid deficiencies that may cause cracked heels:
Foods rich in vitamin E include: vegetable oils, green vegetables, cereals, wheat germ, whole-grain products and nuts.
For calcium: milk, cheese, yogurt, goat's milk, fortified soy milk, mineral water, ice cream, tinned fish, juices, cereals and broccoli.
Iron-rich foods: meat, chicken and fish.
Zinc-rich foods include: oysters, chicken, crab, kidney beans, yogurt, brown rice, spaghetti.
Omega-3 fatty acids are found in cold-water fish, flaxseed oil and flax seeds.
Conclusion
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In most cases, cracked heels occur because of wear and tear, or neglect in taking care of our feet. Cracked feet can be easily healed through proper care and nutrition.
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