Watch HealthyFeetStore.com’s Isha Garcia talk about how Spira Odyssey women’s shoes have helped her gain cushioning comfort during her workouts. Plus, learn about Spira’s WaveSpring® technology and how it’s revolutionized the footwear industry.

Playing Santa can be a daunting task, especially when shopping for stocking stuffers. There are so many things to consider. Should you waste money on fun, impractical gifts that eventually will be thrown out and forgotten, or should you shop for practical and useful gifts?  At HealthyFeetStore.com, we agree with the latter.  We feel that you can’t go wrong with the gift of foot health.  In fact, we feel so strongly about it that we even created a special Stocking Stuffer Gifts page with endless items to choose from.  Below, you’ll find some of our recommendations.

PediFix Silk Feet Callus Removal File
The PediFix Silk Feet Callus Removal File will leave skin smooth, soft and healthy looking. This file is extremely easy to use because it’s flexible and has a unique shape to adapt to the contours of the foot.  If your loved ones have dry and callused heels, this is the ideal gift.

Foot Wheel
Who wouldn’t want a foot massage this holiday season? The Foot Wheel Foot Massager provides more than just a simple massage; it actually offers the benefits of trigger point therapy by helping to extinguish tight or knotted areas at the bottom of the feet.

Cloud Nine Sheepskin Insoles
Offer a little slice of heaven this holiday season with a pair of Cloud Nine 100% Sheepskin Insoles – the title really says it all. They can be placed in slippers, boots or shoes; and they’re thermostatic, which means they’ll help keep feet at a constant, comfortable temperature.

Priti NYC Princess Fantasy Kit Nail Polish
Help your daughter, niece, or little one become more adorable this Christmas with Priti NYC Princess Fantasy Kit Nail Polish for Kids. This kit comes with 4 fun colors that are non-toxic, long-lasting, fast-drying, and chip resistant.  Colors are FDA approved and safe to use.

Speed Laces Elastic Lock Ibungee
No more untied shoe laces, that’s a great holiday gift. That’s what your loved ones will get with a set of Speed Laces Elastic Lock Ibungee Laces. Designed with strong bungee material, these laces will keep shoes tied and securely in place.

Softwalk Furry Boot-Look Tops
Want to give your loved one the gift of instant fashion? You can with Softwalk Furry Boot-Look Tops. These tops will turn ordinary shoes into high-fashion, trend-setting footwear. They’re also simple to wear and will provide warmth to the ankle area.

EverStride Pro Therapy Foot Treatment Cream
Developed by marathon runners to heal dry, cracked skin, EverStride Pro Therapy Treatment Cream is also recommended by physicians. This powerful foot cream prevents blisters, chafing, and callus build-up – users won’t miss a day of running!

Piggy Pillows One Solid Piggy Flip Flop Insoles
A little extra cushion in each step is a wonderful gift; Piggy Pillows One Solid Piggy Flip Flop Insoles can do just that. Not only can they be placed in flip flop sandals, but also in shoes. They’re made with antimicrobial fabric and a tapered edge design to keep feet in place.

My Happy Feet Foot Alignment Socks
Help your loved ones reduce achy, tired feet with My Happy Feet Foot Alignment Socks. These socks do more than keep feet warm, they help stretch and align toes, which in time will improve gait. They also help relieve pain from bunions, hammertoes, and foot cramps.

Dr.’s Remedy Antifungal, Non-Toxic Nail Polish
As one of our most popular items, Dr.’s Remedy Antifungal, Non-Toxic Nail Polish is a safe way to keep toenails healthy and looking great. This product was developed by two board certified podiatrists.  They’re free of Formaldehyde, Toluene, and DBP – plus, they’re safe for both pregnant women and children.

The holiday season is here, which means that we, at HealthyFeetStore.com, are doing our best to provide plenty of sales, deals, and promotions.  But besides all the discounts, we’ve listed 7 other reasons why shopping at HealthyFeetStore.com should be your number one online destination for healthy shoes and footcare products this holiday season.

1. We have a special Christmas Return policy from Nov 1^st through Jan 31^st 2011, which means that customers who place orders between November 1^st and Christmas Eve have until January 31^st to make a return or an exchange.

 

2. We offer free exchanges on shoes.  For example: if you buy a pair of shoes that fit too small and you want to exchange them for a different size, you will not be charged for the exchange or shipment of the item.  For more information, visit our Exchange Information page.

 

3. We do not charge customers a restock fee like other online retailers do. Unfortunately, certain online retailers charge customers an extra fee just to restock their returns or exchanges – HealthyFeetStore.com does not.

 

4. If you contact our customer service department with a phone call or an email, you’ll get a response by an actual human being. HealthyFeetStore.com does not use computer automated services; however, you might have to leave a message on our voicemail during high call volume days; but don’t worry, because 95% of those calls are returned that same day.

 

5. All of our shoes and footcare products are podiatrist approved and recommended. HealthyFeetStore.com was originated by Dr. Jeffrey Hurless, a board certified podiatrist and foot/ankle surgeon – with his help and our highly trained shoe experts, each product is carefully reviewed and selected. We even have a pedorthist on site that can not only assist you with sizing issues, but also help you select footwear and footcare products to minimize or prevent foot pain.

 

6. We offer a vast array of shoe sizes, widths, and depths that can be hard to find at other stores. We carry narrow widths as small as AA and wide widths as large as 14E. We offer extra depth shoes with removable inserts that can be replaced with orthotics. We have shoes for diabetics and stretchable shoes for those with edema; and if you need post-operative footwear, we even have a great selection of wound care shoes.

 

7. Our products can easily be categorized as practical gifts since we work with some of the leading brands in the market: New Balance, Brooks, Drew, Naot, Orthaheel, Alegria, p.w. minor, Spenco, and Darco – just to name a few.  Plus, a lot of the brands we carry have products that have been accepted and approved by the APMA (American Podiatric Medical Association).

Every 17 seconds, someone is diagnosed with diabetes. 13 million men and 12.6 million women in the United States are diabetic and the rate is climbing. Take time this November during American Diabetes Month to learn strategies that you can adopt to help fight diabetes. While there is no cure for diabetes, the disease can be prevented, treated, and controlled. Join the American Diabetes Association by raising a hand to stop diabetes this November.

American Diabetes Association:

The American Diabetes Association strives to prevent and cure diabetes, as well as to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. The Association funds research, spreads information on health and wellness, and helps connect diabetics to sources of support within their communities. During the month of November, the ADA raises awareness with Stop Diabetes, a movement aimed to help build the momentum needed to put an end to diabetes once and for all. Learn more at stopdiabetes.com.

Diabetic Nutrition

Nutrition is an important part of maintaining health and wellness. Fortunately, diabetics may enjoy a wide variety of foods, and may follow the same dietary recommendations as the general population. Keeping track of glucose levels is extremely important for managing diabetes; however it doesn’t mean avoiding sugar at all costs, cutting out carbohydrates completely, or bidding your favorite food joints farewell. By managing what you eat, when you eat, and how much you eat, diabetics can keep their weight down while providing their bodies with delicious foods for fuel. See HelpGuide.org for Diabetes Diet and Foot Tips or visit Stop Diabetes.com for healthy recipes and meal planning.

Exercising with diabetes

Exercise can help control type 2 diabetes by improving blood circulation, lowering blood pressure, improving the body’s use of insulin, and lowering excess body fat. Take the time to be active; try adding steps to your day, swimming, or biking. See the Mayo Clinic Website for information on monitoring your blood sugar while you exercise, and use the Diabetes Exercise and Sports Association website as a resource for tips on living an active, healthy lifestyle. The Mayo Clinic: Living with diabetes blog also provides helpful posts such as “Diabetes and College” and “Could switching to a vegetarian diet cure my diabetes?”

Diabetic Shoes

Comfortable shoes can help encourage a healthy, active lifestyle. Diabetic shoes are designed to protect diabetic feet from injury and HealthyFeetStore.com makes it a priority to carry shoes that fit a diabetic’s lifestyle needs as well. Medicare A5500 coded diabetic shoes are made in a variety of styles; work shoes, dress shoes, walking shoes, and casual shoes. Special features are added to diabetic shoes to keep feet protected and supported; such as breathable leather and suede uppers, and superior ankle, arch, and heel support, and extra depth to accommodate custom orthotics. And footwear brands such as Aetrex, PW Minor, Drew, and Pedors offer the healthy features you need without skipping on style. Invest in your foot health with a pair of diabetic shoes, and get active.

Womens Shoes

p.w. minor Leisure II CS- Women’s Orthopedic Shoe

Drew Rose Women’s Shoe

p.w. minor Tia- Women’s Mary Jane Shoe

New Balance 846- Women’s Walking Shoe

Mens Shoes

Drew Men’s Shoe, Traveler

Sebago Clovehitch II- Men’s Boat Shoe

Dunham Burlington- Men’s Dress Shoe

Comfortrite Men’s Therapeutic Walking Shoe, Lucas

It was a scorching hot day as the sun’s heat blanketed the ground below.  The long shadow from the Great Pyramid of Giza was the only place of refuge where a team of archeologists were excitedly planning their afternoon dig that would take place in the inner bowels of the pyramid.  Tom and his partner Kelly had just finished giving their last instructions to a small group of diggers when Sam limped up next to them.

“Guys, I’m so excited,” Sam exclaimed.
“I don’t know Sam, maybe you should sit this one out, you’re still limping and wearing that wound care shoe,” Kelly said.
“What are you nuts?  I’m the only one on the team that can translate hieroglyphics,” Sam answered.
“Yeah Kelly, don’t worry, he’s not limping too much and that new Darco wound care shoe is pretty durable.  His foot is healing just fine – we just have to make sure he stops snooping around areas of the pyramid that haven’t been safely checked, or else he might injure his other foot,” Tom said.
“Hey I can’t help it if we’re on the brink of finding a new tomb that might have an actual mummy.  If there’s an area that needs searching, that’s why they pay us the big bucks – we’re the crazy ones that aren’t scared of the dark, even though it may cost us an injury,” Sam laughed.
“Ok Sam, but make sure that at least this time you actually bring a flashlight.  Remember, we’re also the ones with PhDs – which means we should be smart enough to know that,” Kelly laughed out loud.

As Tom, Kelly and Sam made their way deeper and deeper into the pyramid, the colder and darker it became; and even though there was still daylight outside, the pyramid’s interior reflected the same atmosphere as a gloomy, moonless night.  In fact, the pyramid’s interior was a completely different world than the one above.  Cobwebs dangled down like long fingers, snatching anything and everything that brushed by them; and every so often, the team heard eerie scudding sounds across the tunnel floor.  These sounds of course came from all of the spiders and scorpions that live in the pyramid, and the team always did their best to ignore the sounds and keep their flashlights ahead so as not to alarm the insects; since sometimes, the insects were attracted to the light, and the last thing they wanted was to have hundreds of spiders and scorpions ascend on them for an afternoon snack.

After a long trek, the team finally spotted a light ahead that was coming from the group of diggers; they also smelled smoke from the small fires that were set around site to ward off the insects.  All of a sudden, they heard loud exciting cheers: the diggers found something.  Tom, Kelly and Sam finally made it to a huge inner chamber where the diggers were all huddled next to an area that was just excavated – it was a secret chamber.

“I’ll check it out guys,” Sam exclaimed as he quickly limped past the diggers and entered the newly discovered chamber, accidentally dropping his flashlight on the way.

“Hold on Sam!  You dropped your flashlight,” Kelly yelled out after him.  Unfortunately, it was too late for Sam as a loud thud echoed out of the chamber.

“Ouch!”
Sam, are you all right?” Tom asked as he and Kelly entered the chamber pointing their flashlights towards Sam, who was grabbing his wounded foot with one hand and caressing an object on the ground with his other hand – the object was a huge book.

Kelly handed Sam his flashlight and he quickly shined it on the book.

“Wow!  We finally did it!  We found the secret tomb of Imhotep; and this is his book of spells,” Sam exclaimed.

“Look over here guys,” Kelly yelled as she flashed her light on a large coffin that was set directly in the middle of the tomb.

They all flashed their lights on the coffin that had more of a square shape rather than the usual headed-coffin design.  The coffin looked like it was extremely top heavy, as if the lid was purposely designed to keep something concealed and put away for eternity.  All three explores looked to one another as if searching for answers as to what type of coffin or thing was in front of them.

“What kind of coffin is this?” Tom asked as he touched it and noticed that the lower part was made out of gold – the lid appeared to be made from some sort of black stone-like material with various hieroglyphics carved on it.  Kelly also noticed the carvings.  “What does it say Sam?”

Sam inspected the carvings and quickly looked from the coffin back to the book.

“No way, the carvings on the coffin say that whoever finds the resting place of Imhotep will be cursed for eternity, and that the book of Imhotep should never be removed from its circle of protection.”

Tom and Kelly quickly flashed their lights towards the area where Sam fell and noticed a perfect circle on the ground where the book was originally set.  With worried looks, they turned to Sam who had the book open and was reading a passage to himself.

“I don’t think you should be reading that Sam,” Tom said.

“It appears to be a bunch of gibberish guys.  It says, I WILL RISE WHEN THE SEAL IS BROKEN AND 31 DAYS MARKS THE FESTIVAL OF THE DEAD,” Sam read out loud.

“That’s strange because it sounds like it’s referring to Halloween, which happens to be today, and it looks like that book was sealed before Sam opened it,” Kelly explained as she pointed to the book that had a broken seal.

Almost as if on queue, the gigantic lid started to move, the ground rumbled and the diggers that were once huddled in the adjacent chamber began screaming and running back through the tunnel from which they came from.  Tom, Kelly and Sam quickly huddled together and slowly backed away, flashing their lights on the coffin in front of them.  The lid was pushed off and fell to ground, breaking into tiny pieces.

Slowly, a dusty figure sat up.  One of its ragged arms reached to the side of the coffin for support while it climbed out.  The mummy looked grotesque and filthy.  As it moved towards the archeologists, it had a limp, and with each step the mummy grunted in pain, until it stopped to reach down to massage its foot.

“Ouch that hurts – after thousands of years and all the magic in the world, you would think that I can make my foot pain go away,” the mummy said.

“Wow, you can talk,” Sam said as he limped towards the mummy.

“Sam, get back here,” Kelly yelled.

The mummy looked up and saw Sam limping towards him without any pain.  He also noticed the Darco wound care shoe and was amazed.

“What is that?” the mummy asked as he pointed to Sam’s wound care shoe.

“Oh, that’s just my special shoe – I injured my foot, and it helps me walk while I heal.  It’s a great modern invention.”

“Why didn’t I think of something like that when I was the Pharaoh’s chancellor and high priest?  I could have been a fantastic healer with that thing.  With all of the urgency to build pyramids, we had a lot of workers with foot and ankle injuries.  Instead, the healers would wrap our entire body with cloth, thinking that it would do the trick, pretty stupid I think,” the mummy said.

“Wait a second, aren’t we cursed?” Tom asked.

“Well technically, I’m supposed to curse you, but to be honest with you, I want to go back to the after-life, it’s a way better life than that of mortals; plus, you get all the free food you want.  How about a deal,” the mummy offered.

“A deal, what do you mean?” Kelly asked.

“You give me that wound care shoe so that I can go back to the after-life without foot pain, and I won’t curse you; in fact, you can take my mummified body to some museum so that you can make a lot of money.  What do you say?”

“It’s a deal,” Tom, Kelly and Sam said at once.

Sam quickly took off his Darco wound care shoe and showed the mummy how to put it on.  After a few steps around the chamber, the mummy was walking with a slight limp, and without pain.

“Wait until my friends in the after-life see this – I’m going to be one cool dude, they’re all going to be jealous since most of them have foot pain as well,” the mummy said.

Tom, Kelly and Sam helped the mummy back into his coffin.  Sam read a passage from the book of spells that reversed the curse and sent the mummy’s soul back to the after-life.  A few days later, Tom, Kelly and Sam were billionaires after selling their discoveries – Sam even bought himself a new Darco wound care shoe for his healing foot.

HealthyFeetStore.com has added new styles of Spira shoes: the men’s and women’s Stinger XLT and Genesis running shoes. Both of these styles offer Spira’s WaveSpring® technology, which incorporates stainless steel rings in the midsole design to improve performance and provide energy return.

The Genesis and Stinger XLT running and walking shoes have a tri-spring configuration – two small springs in the forefoot and one big spring in the heel – this design provides cushioning comfort and exceptional shock absorption to minimize impact. WaveSpring® technology is also extremely long-lasting, so much that the same cushioning steps experienced on the first mile will be felt after 500 miles of use. Plus, since this technology allows wearers to recycle their own energy, Spira shoes have been banned by USATF (United States’ governing body for track and field sports) – now that’s saying something.

See WaveSpring® Technology: Stinger XLT Running Shoes

In this review, HealthyFeetStore.com’s Christopher Ramirez talks about how the technology in Brooks Shoes has made walking and working out a lot more comfortable.

Socktober is finally here!  We have combined the month of October with our sock inventory to offer a grand promotion where you’ll save a lot of money on healthy socks.

Our 3rd annual Socktober Sale offers up to 50% off socks.  Our inventory includes wide and extra wide socks for big feet, diabetic socks for those with sensitive feet, kids’ socks to keep little feet warm and Aetrex athletic socks with copper sole technology.

Save big this year to keep your feet healthy, warm, and comfortable by taking advantage of our awesome Socktober Sale!

Please note: Cannot be combined with other offers or applied to previous purchases.  Excludes mixed-matched shoes and sales marked as final.

The air is getting colder as the fall season begins, which is all the more reason to observe your mobility and make a point to walk throughout the day- Happy Step-tember!  One of the easiest ways to increase your daily activity is to add steps. That’s right, move those feet! Walking will not only increase blood circulation and improve health, adding steps to your day gets you out of the house, out of your car, and better connected with your community. Although much of our day may require driving or sitting in front of a computer screen, there are ways to incorporate walking into your daily routine.

Simple strategies to put more steps in your day:

• Remain standing: Stand and pace during down-time, while waiting for your kid to get out of class, the pharmacist to call your name, whenever!
• Walk to the store if you’re only purchasing an arm’s full
• Don’t wait, walk: Arrive early? Need to kill time? Take a stroll around the block instead of sitting in the car
• Get up and walk to your coworker’s desk instead of sending an email
• Park & Walk: Forgo the spot directly in front of the store doors and don’t circle the parking lot looking for the ‘perfect’ slot. Instead, find parking further down the row that allows for a quick walk.
• Ride & Walk: If you take the bus or train, get off on the stop just before yours.
• Make it a habit: Get in the routine of going for a walk after dinner with friends or family.
• Add steps while catching up with a friend: Walk while talking on the phone or suggest a stroll instead of lounging on the couch.
• Drifting off in the afternoon when you’re supposed to be focused on that report? Take a 10 minute power walk to clear your mind and relieve stress.

Be sure to check out AmericanOnTheMove.org for articles and tips on how to maintain an active lifestyle by eating healthy, getting active, managing weight and moving to green.

Also see last week’s blog post to learn how America Walks is helping communities improve conditions for walking, by increasing street safety and developing neighborhoods that are friendly to walkers.

Orthaheel has just released four new styles of women’s shoes: the Bartlett, Arcadia, Cambria and Melissa. These women’s shoes have eye-catching appeal because they have chic upper designs that incorporate polyurethane material, detailed stitching, colorful tone on tone accents, and various closures from hook and loop adjustable straps to lace up designs.

Orthaheel is easily known for their footbed design, but now with the introduction of their new women’s shoes, you can be sure that they’ll eventually be known for fashionable footwear. All types of women, whether they’re professional young singles or busy moms on the go, can wear these shoes in a variety of urban or informal settings; plus, they provide exceptional footing because they have a durable TPR outsole with a wave tread pattern for optimal, secured steps. If you’re a fan of Orthaheel sandals, you’ll definitely fall in love with Orthaheel shoes because they have the same podiatrist designed footbed technology that helped Orthaheel receive the APMA accepted seal of approval.

So when it comes time to select new fall/winter footwear, be sure to consider Orthaheel women’s shoes because you can be sure you’ll gain more than just fashionable shoes, you’ll gain orthopedic friendly shoes that will improve foot functionality all while minimizing chances of experiencing unhealthy foot conditions in the future.

Orthaheel’s Active Orthotic Footbed

• Comes with the Bartlett, Arcadia, and Cambria

• Podiatrist and biomechanically designed to enhance foot functionality so that wearer’s gain overall foot and body alignment

• Tri-Planar Motion Control system minimizes excessive-pronation by providing stability and support along the three planes of motion (frontal, sagittal and transverse)

• Contoured arch support with heel cup

• EVA with hardened plastic used in its construction; promotes motion control

• 4 degree rear foot wedge for extra support

• EcoFresh cover is anti-bacterial and absorbs foot odor

• Aligns lower limbs and enhances posture, which will reduce or eliminate discomfort from plantar fasciitis, heel pain, back pain, and foot pain

• APMA (American Podiatric Medical Association) approved

• Can be replaced with custom orthotics

Please Note: The Orthaheel Melissa is a slip-on mule that does not have the removable Orthaheel Active Orthotic Footbed.  It does however have some of features mentioned above in its footbed design.