Foods

• Cracked feet are a sign of vitamin and mineral deficiencies in the body, especially zinc and omega-3s. Vitamin E, calcium and iron are also important vitamins and minerals to consume to help heal cracked feet. Foods that contain vitamin E include vegetable oil, leafy green vegetables, whole grains, nuts and wheat germ. Foods high in calcium and iron include milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, broccoli, meat, eggs and beans.
  
  To get your daily supply of zinc and omega-3 fatty acids, you may need to add a few foods you don't normally consume to your diet. Zinc can be found in oysters, crabmeat, brown rice, yogurt and kidney beans. Omega-3s are found in cold-water fish, flax seed and omega-3 enhanced foods like eggs.
  
  

External Remedies

• The most effective remedy for cracked feet is prevention. To keep the feet in good condition, they should be cleaned and moisturized daily. If you have chronic dry feet, you can try soaking them in soapy water for 15 minutes each night before bed. Using a pumice stone or file to remove the external dry skin before moisturizing also will allow the oils in the lotion to reach the inner layers of skin.
  
  Some natural remedies for cracked feet include shortening or vegetable oil, banana and a few simple balms. To use shortening or vegetable oil, simply rub onto clean and dried feet at night before bed, and wear a pair of thick socks to keep the substance in place. After a few days of this routine, the skin should soften and become more resilient.
  
  Another overnight solution is paraffin wax mixed with mustard oil. Use one part of wax to one part oil. This will create a thick liquid. Spread on the feet and leave overnight. You should see results within 10-15 days.
  
  Banana works in much the same way as these overnight remedies, but is left on for a shorter time. Mash a ripe banana and spread the pulp on the cracked area. Leave the banana pulp on your cracked feet for 10 minutes before rinsing it off. This should be done once a day until you see results.
  
  For daytime use, there are a couple of simple balms that can be rubbed into the feet like lotion and left on all day. One recipe to try is 1 tsp. Vaseline combined with the juice of one lemon. Another is one part glycerin to one part rosewater. Both of these solutions can be rubbed into the feet until absorbed and worn daily to clear up cracked feet.