How to Eat to Reduce Plantar Fasciitis Pain, From a Doctor When a runner gets heel pain, it can develop into full-blown plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the ligament that runs along the bottom of your foot, connecting your Achilles tendon and your toes, and because it's so hard to treat, you'll do anything to make the pain subside and get back to your usual workouts. If you’re someone with this painful heel condition, and you've tried icing it, stretching it, massaging it, and sleeping in a splint at night to help it get better, you might be wondering if switching your diet, namely to more plant-based foods, can help. The short answer? Maybe.