Do Foot Detox Pads Work?

Foot detox pads are supposed to work by drawing out the harmful toxins that may be in the body and pulling them out through the soles of the feet. The foot pads are applied to the bottoms of the feet at bedtime and are left until the following morning. The color of the pads changes from white to brown during the night, and the brown is marketed as being the toxins that were removed from the body.

Function

• Detox foot pads are supposed to improve health when the toxins are removed, alleviating ailments and restoring energy.

Studies

• No studies have ever shown the foot pads to remove any toxins from the body.

Color

• The brown color that is seen on the foot pads is thought by many to be a reaction of the sweat from the wearer's foot and the pad.

Test

• In 2009, a TV news station took detox foot pads to a laboratory for testing. Ordinary water was put on the pads, resulting in a brown color on the pads.

Iron

• The iron in sweat may be the chemical reaction that causes the brown discoloration. The pads are rumored to contain a chemical that will react with iron by turning brown and stiffening the pad.