DEAR DR. GOTT: I read your column every day in our newspaper. I enjoy the column very much and have learned a lot from your advice. I have a question about foot detox. Does it really remove toxins from your body? I’ve been doing it for about two years and would like to know if it is a waste of time.
DEAR READER: I will touch on the detoxification process before offering my opinion.
The manufacturers of detox foot pads say toxins will be drawn from the body while a person sleeps. The instructions indicate a person should stick what looks like a large gauze pad to the bottom of both feet for 30 days in row. The pads are removed in the morning or at the end of a sleep period and are replaced daily. “Evidence” of their success is through the discoloration present on the pads. After the initial process, follow-up maintenance is recommended every few weeks.
The ingredients in the pads are purported to give off infrared energy to draw out toxins such as lead and arsenic. They contain plants and herbs, the mineral tourmaline and a mix of wood vinegar. Tourmaline is a hard, colored crystalline borosilicate mineral commonly used in gems, optics and electronics. Wood vinegar is a liquid, brownish red in color. Hmmm, how interesting that when a clear white pad is introduced to the bottom of the foot, it can turn brown.
Arsenic is a natural element that behaves like heavy metal. It can be measured through a variety of laboratory methods. Due to naturally occurring geological contamination, high levels can be found in drinking water from deep-drilled wells and in air, water and soil because of mining, coal-fired power plants and smelting.
Natural dietary detox without experimenting with foot pads includes eating sulfur-rich foods such as eggs, garlic, onions, legumes, fish and onions. Fiber such as fruits and vegetables also help the body detoxify, since toxins adhere to fiber and are eliminated from the body as waste.
I should note that foot reflexology has been practiced in China for thousands of years and remains a popular therapy in most of Asia. Believers feel toxins accumulate from the food we eat and the air we breathe. A method of clearing this buildup is through fasting, dieting, sweating, colon cleansing and physical exercise. Thus, people who practice foot reflexology believe the patches are a painless and trouble-free means of addressing the problem.
There are no published scientific studies that confirm whether the pads work, or even whether they are safe. I am aware the Federal Trade Commission has approached some distributors because of deceptive advertising. While the jury is out on this one, my recommendation is that you eat a well-balanced diet, exercise appropriately, save your money and soak your feet in warm water to which table salt or Epsom salt has been added.
To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Vitamins & Minerals.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order made payable to Newsletter and forwarded to PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092-0167. Be sure to mention the title or print out an order form from my website www.AskDrGottMD.com.
