Cleansing or detoxifying foot pads have become popular in the past few years. Many people buy them because they want to lose weight or draw toxins from the body so that they can be healthier. There are many different brands of these foot pads, but they are all used in a similar manner. Despite the popularity of cleansing foot pads, some consumer advocacy groups have speculated that the cleansing foot pads do not really work.
Purpose
The makers of cleansing foot pads state that cleansing the body by using foot pads is necessary because it helps to get rid of toxins like heavy metals and mercury. These toxins are thought to slow down metabolic processes, making you feel tired and leading to weight gain. ABC News explains that the companies that sell these cleansing foot pads sometimes claim they will get rid of poisons in the body, increase energy, encourage weight loss and even reduce cellulite.
Method
One popular brand of foot pads is Kinoki Foot Pads. According to the Kinoki Foot Pad company website, you simply place the foot pads on the bottom of your feet just before you go to bed. While you sleep, the foot pads are said to draw toxins out from your body. In the morning, you peel off the foot pads and the color of the pads should have changed, indicating that toxins were removed from your body. Companies that sell cleansing foot pads recommend that you use the foot pads each night as the pads become lighter and lighter after each use. You discontinue use when the pads do not show any more color changes in the morning.
How They Work
The makers of Kinoki Foot Pads state that the foot pads work by drawing toxins out of your pores on the bottom of your feet while you sleep. "Consumer Reports" has a different perception of how cleansing foot pads work, as compared to the companies which sell them. According to "Consumer Reports," the adhesive patch which you place on the bottom of your feet contains ingredients like wood vinegar. The organization states that some of the ingredients in the foot pad may be activated by sweat and may automatically change colors on the pad when you sweat during sleep.
Effectiveness
The effectiveness of Kinoki Foot Pads and other brands of cleansing foot pads has not been studied extensively. The companies that sell cleansing foot pads claim they are effective in helping people feel more energized and lose weight. According to "Consumer Reports," this is not the case. "Consumer Reports" notes that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is currently investigating the Kinoki Foot Pad brand, regarding possible false health claims made by the company. George Friedman-Jimenez, M.D., the director of the N.Y. University Occupational and Environmental Medicine Clinic told ABC News that while some people claim to have seen benefits from using cleansing foot pads, the placebo effect is often the real reason for the benefits, not the foot pads themselves. He states that people expect to feel healthier and better when they use the cleansing foot pads, and their outlook can often form the way that they feel physically as well as emotionally.
Cost
The cost of foot cleansing pads varies depends on where they are purchased and what company manufactures the foot pads. The price for cleansing foot pads is generally around $1 to $2 per set of foot pads.
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