Footbaths- A Gentle Detox
Footbaths are a gentle detox practice in use today. You may have seen infomercials about footbaths that pull toxins out of your body through your feet, leaving you with a bath full of brown liquid. There are many false companies who claim the color of the water produced in the bath indicate the toxins that are being removed. The important thing to look at in this short video is the debris that forms in & on the water that are the actual toxins found in the body.
The main point of a detoxifying footbath is to make the body’s pH more alkaline. An alkaline body is crucial to a person’s health. Diseases thrive in an acidic environment. The less acidic your body is, the less prone you are to contracting a disease. The CDC reports that up to 85% of all illness are caused by toxins and pollutants in our bodies. The human body functions best when the ions are balanced at 80% negative (alkaline) and 20% positive (acid).
Breaking the Toxin-Free Radical Connection.
Free radical damage in action.
Toxins in the body cause free radicals which are extremely unstable & reactive. Free radicals disrupt & damage body systems causing oxidative stress. A free radical steals an electron from an atom & leaves the atom missing an electron. This creates a chain reaction that multiplies free radicals causing ruptured chromosomes and cell membranes.
Antioxidants freely donate an electron to neutralize damage.
Antioxidants are effective in fighting free radical damage. An anti-oxidant will freely donate an electron to an unstable atom. Antioxidants, like Vitamin C, lose electrons easily. It is this process that neutralizes free radicals. Negative hydrogen ions act as supercharged free radical scavengers. Once a free radical is neutralized, the body’s natural detoxification process can easily eliminate it.
How Do We Achieve pH Balance?
80% of the American diet comes from the right side of this picture. The Body needs what’s on the left.
The food we eat is either acidic or alkaline. The choice one makes in the foods eaten determines the pH balance of the body. The more you eat fresh whole foods which are alkaline, the better you will be. Eighty percent of the Standard American Diet contains ultraprocessed foods which create free radicals. The the free radicals are what cause damage at the cellular level. A footbath helps to neutralize free radicals from the body.
How Does the Footbath Work?
The ionization process of the footbath.
The Ionic Detox System produces ions in the water that the body readily absorbs. The ionizing array produces a low current, low voltage signal into the foot bath water. The current in the array creates ionization through a process known as electrolysis. Electrolysis breaks down the water molecule and produces a negative hydrogen ion. These negative ions are absorbed through the feet by osmosis. the negative ions act like the antioxidants in our food completing the electron pair and blocking further damage. Detoxification continues in the body for up to 48 hours after the footbath through urination & sweating. Increasing you water intake within this time period will help this process. It’s also best to avoid high acidic foods/drinks after a treatment, to help the detox process. This type of detox can help to lower blood sugar & cholesterol levels.
Doing a footbath 2 times a year is a proactive & relaxing way to take ownership of your health. Using a footbath & coupling it with an alkaline food chart is beneficial. Eating 80% of alkaline type foods helps maintain body pH which supports a strong immune system. Use it to make up your weekly shopping list & downloading it on your cell phone as a quick reference when grocery shopping will help you purchase alkalizing foods.
The Benefits
A footbath is gentle and safe. It does not complicate the GI tract because it bypasses the digestive system. It works well when accompanied with acupuncture & stimulates blood flow in treating peripheral neuropathy. The best time to detox for people who do not have underlying conditions is during the transitional seasons of Spring and Fall.
Are Footbaths Good For Anybody?
Most people can benefit from an ionic detox. It is especially good for those suffering from GI disorders, skin conditions & fungal/yeast infections. Who should NOT participate in a footbath?
- People with a pacemaker or any other battery-operated or electrical implant.
- Women who are pregnant or nursing.
- People with transplanted organs.
- Anyone who is on heartbeat regulating medications or blood thinners.
- People with Type 1 Diabetes.
- People who suffer from epilepsy or hemophilia.
- Children under the age of 5 years old.
Footbaths can be done with caution for people undergoing chemotherapy or radiation. However, please consult with your healthcare provider.
Also those who have low blood sugar, should eat before using the footbath.