The Truth About Detox Foot Pads

Detox foot pads claim to remove toxins and improve health, but there’s no scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness, and manufacturers have been fined for advertising false health benefits. The best natural detoxifier is your liver.

What You Need to Know Before Trying Detox Foot Pads

Detox foot pads are sticky patches you place on your feet before bed. Makers claim they remove toxins, like heavy metals, and improve medical conditions as you sleep.

When you remove the pads in the morning, they’re usually brown or black. Manufacturers falsely claim this shows harmful toxins were removed from your body.

Contrary to these claims, detox foot pads do not remove toxins from the body. There is no proof that they can effectively treat any medical condition. The makers of this product have been fined and penalized by the FTC for these false assertions.            

What Health Benefits Do Detox Foot Pads Promise? 

In addition to drawing out toxins, claims by manufacturers of this product include that the foot pads are beneficial for other medical conditions.

For instance, Kinoki has asserted that its product is able to:

Each of these claims is both false and misleading. To date, no research supports the use of foot pads to treat any medical condition, nor is there any proof that they detoxify the body.

Foot pads don’t detoxify, but some ingredients may offer benefits. For example, lavender essential oil in patches can help with insomnia; however, this has only been shown to be true for patches applied to the chest.

What Causes Detox Foot Pads to Change Color?

Manufacturers often point to color changes in the patch as proof of detox. However, this claim is inaccurate.

The dark color seen on used pads is due to wood vinegar mixing with foot sweat. The same color change occurs if the patch is spritzed with tap water.

How Does Your Body Naturally Get Rid of Toxins?

It isn’t necessary to “detox” your body with commercial products. This is because your body has its own natural methods of removing harmful substances.

There are two types of toxins found in the body:

• Endotoxins are substances produced as byproducts of normal bodily functions. This includes lactic acid buildup after exercise or fecal matter production after digestion.
• Exotoxins are toxic substances that are inhaled from the environment or consumed when you eat or drink.

No matter the type of toxin, your liver is designed to process and eliminate it. It does this by filtering harmful substances from your bloodstream and converting them into waste products.

Your liver also transforms nutrients and medications into beneficial proteins. Keeping this organ healthy is the key to effectively detoxifying your body.   

Signs and Symptoms of Poor Liver Function

If your liver isn’t effectively eliminating toxins, you will have telltale signs and symptoms. These include:

• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, indicating a bilirubin buildup)
• Stomach pain or swelling
• Itchy skin
• Swollen legs or ankles
• Dark urine
• Pale stool
• Chronic fatigue
• Bruising easily

Paying attention to the presence of these symptoms can help alert you to a potential problem with this organ. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to contact your healthcare provider to discuss any concerns you have about your liver.

How to Improve Liver Function Naturally

Instead of taking supplements or using detox foot pads, there are several steps that you can take to ensure that your liver is functioning effectively. These include the following:

• Avoid excessive alcohol use.
• Maintain a healthy body weight.
• Avoid recreational drug use or unprotected sex with multiple partners (which may increase your risk of contracting hepatitis).
• Get screened for liver disease if it runs in your family.
• Stay hydrated.
• Avoid unsafe detox practices.
• Consult your healthcare provider before taking supplements.