Health & Well-Being

When fall hits, you’ll probably throw your flip-flops back in the closet until next summer. Here are three reasons why you might want to go a step further and throw them away for good.

• First: flip-flops are responsible for more health problems than ANY OTHER TYPE OF SHOE. According to The American College of Sports Medicine, not even sky-high stilettos are worse for your feet. Podiatrists say they give absolutely no support for your arches, which can lead to fallen arches or a painful condition called Plantar Fasciitis – that feels like a hot poker jabbing at your heel. Flip-flops also force the muscles in your feet and legs to work harder just to keep them on, which puts extra strain on everything from your heels to your hips. Over time, all that added pressure increases your risk for tendonitis, shin splints, sprains, bunions and even stress fractures!
• Next reason to ditch your flip-flops: they’re germ magnets. Lab studies have shown that flip-flops, that have been worn for only four-days, were covered in bacteria that cause staph-infections. Those bacteria can easily enter your bloodstream through a small cut on your foot and potentially kill you. In total, researchers found over 18,000 different types of bacteria living on the four-day-old flip-flops. The older the sandal, the more bacteria they’re covered in.
• Finally, your flip-flops could get your fired. Megan Cleary is a style commentator and the author of “The Perfect Fit: What Your Shoes Say About You.” She says flip-flops are just too casual and they send a very unprofessional message. In fact, in Brooksville, Florida the city council voted that city employees who don’t follow the dress code by wearing flip-flops will be fired. They’re not alone; 64 percent of employers ban flip-flops from their workplace.

Now, even though flip-flops shouldn’t be everyday wear, there are a couple of places where they’re appropriate: The beach, and the gym. They’re handy at the beach for slipping on and off easily, and at the gym they’ll save you from any nasty skin infections lurking in the showers.