Parsley, just the garnish on your plate, adds texture and color to an otherwise mundane and unappealing meal. How could this flavorful, colorful, nutrient rich vegetable be overlooked and discarded at the end of the meal? Probably in the same way that socks have become an afterthought in the shoe purchasing process. Located close to the check-out stand so as to not be forgotten, the sock is seen as an add-on, a purchase extra, an up-sale for the shoe sales person. However, socks prove to be much more than just a bit of new color highlighting your shoes.

Socks are the tool that helps regulate skin temperature, moisture and the complex microenvironment of your foot, as enclosed within the shoe. The materials used in its construction, not its color, defines its powers. The sock’s number one function is to remove moisture from your perspiring foot and drive it into the fabric of your shoe; one-quarter cup a day of exposed moisture is a tough job for any sock to handle. Whether the sock materials wick moisture into the fabric of the shoe or the ionic charge repels water away from your foot, don’t let yourself be fooled into thinking that a sock is merely just a sock.

Today, one thing is clear: cotton is dead in sock construction. Cotton socks trap moisture against the foot and increases the risk of foot skin and nail disease and blister. For this reason, always look for wool based socks, like Smartwool, or purely synthetic socks, like Drymax, to create the ideal marriage between the shoe, sock, and your foot.

So next time you see parsley on your plate, give it some added thought, and don’t pass up the opportunity to enjoy it as a part of your meal.