You may notice that from time to time, your feet start “ballooning” or swelling. This especially happens for people with diabetes, and people who have diabetes are more prone to foot swelling because high levels of blood glucose can easily damage the tiniest of blood vessels, reducing blood flow throughout the body. Without proper blood flow, the feet lack the nutrients and oxygen to function properly without pain.
There could be a lot more other reasons why your feet start to swell but did you know that the source of inflammation or swollen feet might be what you ate? If you are a diabetic patient, it is important that you properly choose what foods you will eat. Some foods may cause your blood sugar to strike up and cause complications.
There are many foods that can cause your feet to swell, and there are also a number of foods that can reduce the inflammation in your feet. We’ll discuss and focus on foods that can cause swelling in your feet so that you can avoid them as much as possible or eat them but in little servings only.
Check out: Are Bananas Good for Diabetics?
Foods that make diabetic feet swell
Foods that generally cause inflammation or swelling in your feet are also bad for your overall health. These foods are the type that can cause you to gain weight quickly and don’t contain a lot of healthy nutrients. Gaining weight can also contribute to swelling of your feet. That is why diabetic patients are recommended by their healthcare providers to exercise, have a healthy diet plan, and maintain their weight at a healthy level, just like their blood sugar level. Here are some foods that you should avoid and can be the cause your feet to swell:
- Sugar and high-fructose corn syrup – Sugar and high-fructose corn syrup are completely devoid of important nutrients. High-fructose corn syrup contains “empty” calories. When our bodies have too much sugar, our insulin tries to store it in fat cells, causing them to become fatter. High-sugar and high-fructose corn syrup foods.
- White bread
- Sweetened beverages
- Cookies
- Soda
- Pastries
- Vegetable and seed oils – Trans fat can be found in certain vegetables, seeds, and hydrogenated oils, all of which lead to inflammation. Previously, it was thought that a moderate amount of trans fat was safe, but a new study shows that it is not and that the greatest threat from T-fat is its ability to distort cell membranes. Trans fat can also be found in the following foods:
- Fast foods such as french fries, fried chicken, and battered fish
- Bakery products such as muffins, cakes, pastries, and pie (They are usually made with vegetable shortening)
- Vegetable shortening
- Non-dairy coffee creamers
- Drinking water instead of alcohol causes your body to retain more water. Swelling occurs as a result of the excess water, although it normally goes away after a day or two. Not only may chronic alcohol drinking cause inflammation, but it can also cause additional problems. “Chronic alcohol consumption disrupts not only gut and liver functions but also multi-organ interactions, resulting in persistent systemic inflammation and, ultimately, organ damage,” according to a study published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information.
- Red meat and processed meat – Red meat or processed meat is high in saturated fat, which causes inflammation and is not healthy for your overall health also.
- Refined carbohydrates – As your body’s immune system tries to remove the excess from your blood supply, refined carbohydrates might boost your blood sugar and increase your inflammatory response. Refined carbohydrates can be found in the following foods:
- Bread
- Rolls
- Crackers
- French fries
- Sugary cereals
Using extra broad and compression socks for your swollen feet has a number of advantages. You’ll be pain-free while also avoiding the use of excessive medicine. It aids in the relief of discomfort caused by swelling in the tissue. Finally, regardless of the type of extra-wide socks you choose for your swollen feet, consult your primary healthcare practitioner or general doctor before using them.
