{"id":18234,"date":"2018-12-11T10:00:05","date_gmt":"2018-12-11T04:30:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/functionalnutritionlab.com\/blog\/?p=87"},"modified":"2025-08-28T15:01:18","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T15:01:18","slug":"got-cold-feet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fxnutrition.com\/blog\/got-cold-feet","title":{"rendered":"got cold feet?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you have cold feet?<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not talking about the cold feet that come with apprehension on your wedding day or before a job interview.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m talking about a piercing feeling\u2014almost like frostbite\u2014that just won\u2019t go away, even when tucked under two layers of wool and down blankets. It\u2019s a chill that can be felt in the feet, the hands and fingers, or even the nose and ears.<\/p>\n

The frigid sensation also comes with discoloration, turning those extremities white or blue and sometimes making it challenging to walk or type, as I am now.<\/p>\n

I used to suffer cold feet like this.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s called Raynaud\u2019s disease. And I\u2019m not alone.<\/p>\n

Approximately 3-5% of the population endures such a chill. That percentage increases significantly if you narrow the demographic to women between the ages of 15 and 40. It\u2019s likely that you\u2019ll see someone with Raynaud\u2019s disease in your practice.<\/p>\n

What is Raynaud\u2019s?<\/h2>\n

My familiarity with Raynaud\u2019s manifested mostly as cold feet. Yes, my hands and nose were cold, but oh my aching feet. It would hurt to walk during these winter months and well into spring, and I\u2019d sometimes wake up in the night just because one foot touched the other in my sleep.<\/p>\n

The throbbing pain was so excruciating that it startled me awake. Ouch!<\/em><\/p>\n

Raynaud\u2019s disease is an exaggerated physiological response where the small blood vessels (arterioles) in the body\u2019s extremities constrict and spasm, limiting blood flow, heat and oxygen to those areas. It\u2019s often thought of as a circulatory disorder.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s triggered by exposure to cold temperatures, but also by emotional stressors.<\/p>\n

There are two different types of Raynaud\u2019s phenomenon and it\u2019s important to distinguish between the two.<\/p>\n

Primary Raynaud\u2019s:<\/strong> Often called Raynaud\u2019s disease; cause unknown; more mild; more common<\/p>\n

Secondary Raynaud\u2019s:<\/strong> Typically triggered by other health concerns including carpal tunnel syndrome, lupus, connective tissue disorders or scleroderma; can also be provoked by certain medications that affect circulation such as chemotherapy, beta-blockers or even some OTC cold medications.<\/p>\n

What you can do to relieve those cold feet<\/h2>\n

You\u2019ll notice that I spoke about my Raynaud\u2019s (which was of the primary sort), in the past tense. That\u2019s because there is indeed something you can do to get relief for your aching feet and help bring some relief to your clients and patients who suffer from this condition!<\/p>\n

In general terms, with regards to diet and primary Raynaud\u2019s disease, be sure to address any underlying food allergies or sensitivities. These can put the body under extra stress and become a hidden cause of many health issues and immune responses. (Think elimination diet. Get specific to the individual with what needs to be removed.)<\/p>\n

Nutrition & lifestyle recommendations for Raynaud’s Disease<\/h2>\n