DeLand Foot and Leg Center

01/25/2026

Stop tossing the 'tops'!

Don't just eat the berry, eat the 'engine'! The green base of the strawberry (calyx) is a vasodilating powerhouse that helps keep your circulation—and your walk—on the right track.
And, It gets better, that same strawberry calyx is nature’s own anti-inflammatory 'reset' button for chronic wounds. It clears out oxidative 'clutter' so your skin can get back to the business of building new tissue.

📩Direct message us your email to learn more about this!

01/24/2026

01/23/2026

Foot Focus Friday

Today’s Small Group Exam took foot health to the market—literally. We focused on purposeful shopping and using food as therapy for the next 3 months.

- Circulation (PAD): leafy greens & citrus
- Blood Sugar: fiber-rich veggies & low-sugar fruits
- Inflammation: colorful plants that help cool the fire

We explored unique produce like starfruit (avoid with kidney disease) and xoconostle cactus fruit, expanding how patients think about whole foods as part of their treatment plan. Nutrition that supports circulation, diabetes, and better steps.

Florida Podiatric Medical Association (FPMA) American College of Lifestyle Medicine American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA)

01/19/2026

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Today, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we reflect on Dr. King’s legacy of service, unity, and community. This evening’s Walk with a Doc at Oakdale Cemetery will honor his life and message through movement and shared reflection.

Registration begins at 4:45 PM, with the walk from 5:00–5:30 PM. This is a free event featuring three walking groups, welcoming all levels and abilities.

Walking together is one way we continue Dr. King’s vision, building healthier, more connected communities from the ground up.

Walk With A Doc American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Florida Podiatric Medical Association (FPMA)

01/16/2026

Foot Focus Friday
“Why does my right foot hurt, but my left one feels fine?”

Dr. Pulapaka hears this all the time—and her favorite explanation is: “Same parent, two different kids.”

Your feet may look alike, but they don’t always function the same. One foot might roll a little more, take more pressure, or compensate for an old injury. Over time, those small differences can lead to big changes, like a bunion on one foot and not the other.

It’s the same reason one knee often needs replacing while the other never does.
Biomechanics matter. Load matters. Repetition matters. Pain isn’t random...it’s your body telling a story. And every foot has its own.

American College of Lifestyle Medicine American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Florida Podiatric Medical Association (FPMA)

01/13/2026

The 1950s Called—They Want Their Heart Disease Back.

The new 2025 Federal Guidelines are pushing beef tallow and butter back to the top of the pyramid. This isn't "retro" or "traditional"—it’s a dangerous rejection of 75 years of cardiovascular science.

The Lethal Math:
On a 1,200-calorie diet, your saturated fat limit is 6.7 grams.
One tablespoon of beef tallow is 6.4 grams.
Eat one spoonful and you’ve effectively "closed the kitchen" on saturated fat for the next 24 hours.

Personal choice is yours, but we won't tell you it’s safe to run with scissors. Science over ideology. Every single time.

01/12/2026

Florida Spider Bites: Fact vs. Fiction

In Florida, true medically significant spider bites are extremely rare—especially indoors. Despite common belief, brown recluse spiders are not native to most of Florida and are seldom found inside homes or apartments.

Medical research shows that many so-called “spider bites” are actually skin and soft tissue infections, most commonly MRSA. These infections can start as a small red, painful area and rapidly worsen if not treated early—sometimes leading to serious complications.

To put this into perspective:
In a 6-year review, 124 suspected brown recluse bites were reported by medical professionals in Florida, yet only about a dozen actual brown recluse spiders have been confirmed in the state over more than 100 years. Diagnosed bites far outnumber verified spiders.

Bottom line:
If a “bite” is painful, spreading, draining, or not improving, it should be evaluated medically. Early diagnosis and treatment matter, regardless of whether a spider was ever involved.

American Board of Multiple Specialties in Podiatry Florida Podiatric Medical Association (FPMA) American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) American College of Lifestyle Medicine

01/09/2026

Foot Focus Friday

Official Statement: Navigating the 2025–2030 Federal Dietary Guidelines
To our patients and community,

In light of the recently released 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, Dr. Jenneffer Pulapaka wishes to clarify our stance on nutrition and public health. As your medical providers, our primary duty is to provide you with guidance based on rigorous, peer-reviewed science, not political shifts or industry-driven ideology.

Our Scientific Perspective
While we strongly endorse the new federal emphasis on reducing ultra-processed foods and added sugars—a move that is long overdue—we find other aspects of the new guidelines to be contradictory and inconsistent with 75 years of cardiovascular and metabolic research.

Specifically, we have concerns regarding:

The Prioritization of Animal Fats: The new recommendation to prioritize butter, beef tallow, and full-fat dairy ignores the clear link between high saturated fat intake and cardiovascular disease.

The Protein "Narrative": Most Americans already consume adequate protein. Suggesting a massive increase in animal-sourced protein while de-emphasizing plant-based fiber sources (like legumes and seeds) is not supported by current clinical evidence.

The "Retro" Approach: These guidelines move away from modern, plant-forward research and back toward 1950s-era dietary patterns, a period characterized by high rates of heart disease.

Nutrition is Science, Not Ideology
We believe that nutrition is a pillar of medicine, not a platform for political statements. While the current administration has framed these changes as a departure from "leftist ideology," we believe that health should have no political affiliation. Personal choice is paramount—how you eat is a deeply personal decision. However, just as we would never tell a patient it is safe to "run around a slippery pool deck with scissors," we cannot in good conscience recommend a diet high in animal fats and low in essential plant-based nutrients as a primary health strategy.

Our Recommendation to You
Our practice will continue to follow the preponderance of scientific evidence. For most patients, this means:

Prioritizing whole, plant-based foods (vegetables, fruits, and grains).

Choosing lean protein sources and heart-healthy unsaturated fats (like olive oil and nuts).

Strictly limiting ultra-processed "packaged" foods (the one point where we and the new guidelines agree).

Eating more meat and animal fat will not replace the fundamental protection provided by modern medicine, including essential vaccinations. We remain your partners in health, committed to facts over "old wives' tales" or political trends.

In Health, DeLand Foot and Leg Center

12/31/2025

Wrapping up 2025 has us feeling incredibly grateful. This year we helped heal wounds and bring comfort to patients, even when cancer ended their journey. We turned scared teens with ingrown toenails into pain-free kids after just one visit. We listened to complex patients who told us they felt truly heard for the first time in decades. We had patients tell us they wish Dr. Jenneffer was their primary care doctor because in one visit she did more for them than they’d experienced in years.

None of this happens without an amazing team. From an office manager who treats everyone like her own grandparents, to a Medical Assistant in funky socks who makes people smile, to a receptionist who goes beyond with kindness, then to a doctor who genuinely cares about the whole person..not just the problem.

Thank you to our patients for trusting us and to our team for showing up with heart every single day. Here’s to carrying that same care into the new year!