Foot detox patches are gauze pads filled with wood vinegar and herbs that manufacturers claim can draw fat, cellulite and toxins out of the body through the soles of the feet. They are among the latest quick-fix diet fads. Proponents of foot detox pads claim a range of health benefits, but the truth remains that weight loss is about burning more calories than you eat.
Manufacturers' Claims
Makers of detox foot pads claim their products can not only induce weight loss, they can treat insomnia, lower blood pressure, reduce depression and even suck out cellulite. The questionable science behind detox patches is loosely based on Chinese acupuncture. Because the kidney meridian is in the sole of the foot, and because toxins are partially filtered through the kidney, patch manufacturers do start from a basis in reality. However, one brand of detox diet patches goes so far as to state that its product can actually suck excess fat out of the body, and that this is accomplished by combating negative ions and penetrating the skin with far-infrared energy.
Detox Diet Patch Ingredients
Detox foot pads all contain some form of wood vinegar, usually derived from oak or bamboo. Most also contain the mineral tourmaline, which manufacturers claim possesses far infrared rays that generate "negative ions" capable of drawing out toxins. Other ingredients found in detox diet patches include eucalyptus, sellfish-derived chitosan, green tea and agicarus mushroom. Other herbs found in foot pads include chamomile, hawthorne and wild indigo root. No scientific evidence suggests that any of these ingredients are capable of sucking toxins out through the skin.
Expert Insight
Scientists and physicians overwhelmingly denounce foot detox as a scam. Because the pads turn greasy and emit a foul smell after being stuck to the feet all night, manufacturers claim this is proof they are sucking out fat and toxins. Seeking to debunk this theory, Los Angeles Times reporter Chris Woolston squirted saline solution onto a pad and found that it turned dark, greasy and smelly, probably as a result of the vinegar in the pad. Dr. George Friedman-Jimenez of the Bellevue/New York University Occupational and Environmental Medicine Clinic told consumer advocate John Stossel in a "20/20" interview that any benefits consumers perceived after using foot pads were likely due to the placebo effect.
Federal Trade Commission Complaint
In 2009, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission charged New Jersey manufacturer Xacta 3000, which created the original Kinoki detox foot pads, with consumer fraud. The FTC complaint stated that the advertising claims behind Kinoki patches either lacked scientific evidence or could be proven false. Because Kinoki pads contain the same ingredients as the other pads on the market, it seems likely that the claims made by the other manufacturers are false as well.
How to Lose Weight
The only guaranteed way to achieve lasting weight loss is through exercising more and eating less. According to MayoClinic.com, the bottom line when it comes to losing weight is calories. Limiting calories through diet and exercise will cause you to shed pounds. If you are eating a healthful diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein and whole grains and avoiding processed foods, your body will detoxify itself without the need for assistance from the latest gimmick.
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