Cleansing foot pads do not remove toxins from your body, experts say – the foot is not a detoxifying organ
- A social media post claiming foot pads help detoxify your body while you sleep garners more than 300,000 views – but no credible evidence backs this up
- ‘Feet are not a detoxification organ,’ a professor says – the kidneys and liver do most of the work of toxin removal
A widely shared video circulating on social media purports to show detox foot pads removing toxins from the bottom of the feet.
“Cleansing Foot Pads provides a healthy and fast effect to your body while you are sleeping,” reads the text of a Facebook post shared April 21. “From reducing inflammation, relieving the body, to detoxifying your body from all the impurities.”
The video generated over 300,000 views and close to 500 interactions within two weeks. Several other Facebook users have shared similar posts.
But there is no credible evidence to support foot pads clearing the body of toxins. Experts say no scientific studies have been published proving detox foot pads work.
Scant scientific data on foot pads
“One of the most common claims for (foot pads) is that they draw out toxins like heavy metals, and that is a claim for which there is very little evidence,” said Dr Murad Alam, vice chair of dermatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in the US state of Illinois.