Pumpkin EVERYTHING season is officially here! While many of us enjoy pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin pie, and all things pumpkin, it has some benefits for your foot health that might surprise you. In today’s post, Dr. Eric Ricefield, Dr. Mark Yagodich, and Dr. Aliza V. Eisen of greater Philadelphia’s Your Next Step Foot and Ankle Care Center are sharing 7 benefits of pumpkin on your feet.

1. It makes your feet stronger. Pumpkin contains a lot of Vitamin A, which encourages healthy vision and helps maintain bones. Considering that a quarter of your bones are in your feet, this favorite fall fruit (yes, it’s a fruit) can go a long way in enhancing your overall foot health.
2. Helps fight diabetes. Pumpkins have been shown to reduce blood glucose levels, which elevates the body’s insulin levels and boosts the body’s glucose tolerance.
3. Revitalizes the toenails. Fragile, unhealthy nails are linked to a biotin deficiency, which is restored by eating pumpkin seeds. The seeds in pumpkins have a high amount of zinc, which controls the body’s capacity to create new proteins that help form healthy, strong toenails.
4. Smooths your feet’s skin. If you’re frustrated by corns, calluses, and other unsightly dead skin, you should consume more pumpkin. It’s packed full of vitamins K, B, A, and E, which help hydrate and plump the skin.
5. Soothe swollen, irritated feet. If your feet are painful after long days at work, try munching on some pumpkin seeds. The zinc content in them helps control swelling, and their anti-bacterial properties help relieve irritation.
6. Softens dry skin on your feet. This orange superfood is full of enzymes that help soften cracked, dry skin, and encourage cell regeneration. You can buy pumpkin foot scrubs that leave your feet feeling baby soft.
7. Halts body degeneration. Keeping our feet healthy becomes even more essential as people age. Foot issues that develop when we get older slow us down and can be a factor in accidental falls and trips. Pumpkins are also high in beta-carotene, which slows the aging process and body deterioration that often affects the feet first.

If you’re currently experiencing any issues with your feet, reach out to the experienced team at Greater Philadelphia’s Your Next Step Foot and Ankle Care Center.  Click here to locate contact information for the office nearest you.