A Firm Understanding, Keeping Your Feet Healthy

“Our feet can mirror our general health: from arthritis to circulatory disorders, they may be the first to know if we are developing a serious medical condition.”

We may not give too much thought about our feet or how resilient they are, but we must admit that they carry us through life. They take a lot of abuse: we bump them, squeeze them into high-heals or shoes that do not fit but we stand tall because of them, or run, jump and skip. Most people take their feet for granted and have no clue how special their design actually is.

An adult has 206 bones in the body, one quarter of the bones—26—are in each of our feet; 14 of the 26 bones are in your toes, with 107 ligaments and 19 muscles. Talk about being sensitive: in total, they have more than 200,000 nerve endings per square centimeter and they are the most ticklish part of the body. There are approximately 250,000 sweat glands in our feet and the average person will perspire a cup of moisture per day. The structure of your foot will give you comfort or problems, e.g. flat feet will cause you issues. If your feet are misaligned, it can cause pain throughout your body, headaches, lower backaches and indigestion. In a lifetime, the average person will walk 100,000 miles, and per day, the accumulated bearing load is over one hundred tons.

Our feet can mirror our general health: from arthritis to circulatory disorders, they may be the first to know if we are developing a serious medical condition; when in doubt get a check up.

One of the fascinating features of the nerve endings in our feet is their connection to the brain. Studies indicate that activating these nerve endings can significantly impact the brain, enhance balance, alleviate pain, and even boost cognitive abilities.

The Effects of Osteoporosis on Feet

Osteoporosis is a degenerative disease characterized by the reduction of bone mass. It is more common in women. It affects almost 20% (1 in 5) of women aged 50 and over and almost 5% (1 in 20) of men aged 50 and over.[1] To understand bone mass, consider how, in our youth, bones accumulate mass more rapidly than the body breaks it down. This process stabilizes as we enter adulthood and achieve peak bone mass. As we get older, this balance is disrupted: the body starts to lose bone quicker than it can produce it. When bone loss outpaces bone formation persistently, it leads to osteoporosis, a condition that significantly weakens the bones.

Osteoporosis can also affect the foot by causing balance problems that may lead to falls and injuries, not only in the ankle and foot. Sometimes, the ankle or foot may become painful and swollen without an apparent injury.[2]

Medical research has shown that the addition of calcium supplements to the diet, especially when aging can maintain and restore strength to the bones, particularly when the calcium is bound to orotates and balanced with minerals that enhance the absorption and utilization of these important elements, as in Opti-Cal/Mag Complex.

Many popular calcium supplements do not absorb into the bones instead they float in the blood stream forming plaque on the arteries and brain and cause calcium spurs. Hypercalcemia is a condition in which the calcium level in the blood becomes too high, this condition can weaken bones and create kidney stones and affect the heart and brain.

Opti-Cal/Mag Complex is completely unique, designed to promote bone growth by increasing the production of osteocalcin in osteoblasts, which allows calcium to anchor to bone and thus build bone. It also inhibits the production of osteoclasts, which break down bone thereby acting as an inorganic calcium scavenger for reabsorption.

One of the best treatments includes fortified Boron, which is a vital trace mineral that is required for the normal growth and development of the human body. It enhances brain function, promotes alertness, and is needed in trace amounts for healthy bones and for the metabolism of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. A study conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that women who supplemented with 3 milligrams of elemental boron each day reduced their excreted calcium levels by 44%, leading them to conclude the boron improves the metabolism of calcium and magnesium.

It has proven to be an effective treatment for arthritis, showing significant improvement in over 95% of cases by enhancing calcium integration into cartilage and bones. As individuals age, boron helps prevent bone weakening and porosity by maximizing and utilizing calcium effectively. The elderly can benefit from boron supplements of 3 to 6 milligrams per day because they have a greater issue with calcium absorption.

Life Choice products to treat the following conditions:

* Athlete’s foot – Antifungal Medication Cream (AFMC)

* Blisters – AFMC and DMSO gel or liquid

* Bunions – DMSO put on a cotton swab and applied over bunions

* Corns – DMSO applied same as above

* Plantar fasciitis – DMSO placed twice per day, must be soaked and bandage applied

* Heel spur – DMSO

* Fungal nail infection – AFMC

* Plantar wart – DMSO

* Sesamoiditis – DMSO and Sweet Relief Cream (SRC)

* Diabetic neuropathy – apply DMSO with SRC

* Gout – diet

* Flat foot – arch support

– For over-worked feet rub DMSO on the soles of your feet

– Cold feet – usually result of thyroid imbalance, take Thyrodine

Additional Reading: 

References and Further Readings:

[1] https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/disease/osteoporosis.htm

[2] Lee, Hubert. 2024.