How to Handle Your Sweaty Feet

There are over 200,000 sweat glands in our feet so it is no wonder that many people struggle to control sweaty, smelly paws. There are cases where people have Hyperhidrosis; a medical term for  sweating feet. For some people, keeping the sweat at bay is a real challenge.

There are a number of reasons for sweaty, smelly feet. It could be a simple case of strain, such as standing too long or a response to exercise. The moisture can also be due to the hot weather and poor footwear. Often time’s adolescents experience sweaty feet because they have over-active sweat glands during hormonal changes.

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The exact cause of hyperhidrosis is unknown, but scientists believe that sweating is controlled by our nervous system, which reacts suddenly in situations of stress so there could be a link, especially if you are prone to sweat in the first place.

Many preventative steps can be taken to help you avoid the embarrassment that comes with sweaty, stinky feet. In the past some people have reverted to strong medications, injections and even sweat gland surgery to deal with the problem. In recent years researchers have discovered some natural health methods that are effective is staving off the discomfort and stench that sweaty feet present.

Putting Preventative Measures in Place

It is used throughout the world as a cooking spice and in China is considered an important medicinal ingredient, but now many natural health experts suggest ginger can help people who suffer from sweaty feet. They say you should mash fresh ginger and place it in a cloth, run the cloth over warm water to get the juices flowing then take the cloth with the pulp and rub it onto your feet right after you have showered. It not only eliminates odor it keeps the feet from sweating.

Studies have been conducted on other herbs including sage. It turns out that sage tea, which contains a large amount of tannic acid, can neutralize odor causing bacteria. It has become popular for people with sweaty feet to soak their toes in a large bucket of water with 5 or 6 sage tea bags in it.  Once the water is boiled and the tea seeped, they wait for the bucket to cool down and then place their feet in it and soak for about 30-minutes.

Vitamins and Minerals and How They Can Be Used …

Food plays such a large role in our over-all health and research shows that it applies to sweaty feet as well. Yes…your feet are what you eat. Studies in the United States and Asia show that eliminating certain foods from our diet help reduce sweat. Below is a list of food items you might want to reduce or remove from your diet if you have a problem with sweaty, smelly feet.

•              Spicy food

•              Coffee

•              Alcohol

•              Garlic

•              Onions

•              Caffeinated teas

•              Soda pop

For some people, eliminating certain foods is enough of a preventative measure to do the trick, while others need something more. This is where vitamins and minerals might help. Vitamin B complex for example, supports both a healthy immune and nervous system. Research shows that sweating can cause you to lose important vitamins and minerals.

Physicians say you can’t discount some of the home remedies that we all know. Placing a couple of teaspoons of baking soda or cornstarch inside shoes works for some people. Others say soaking their feet in salt water prevents sweating.