Detox, Shmeetox

The truth about pollutant-draining foot pads, colonics and other supposedly healthy cleansers

Jane Greune / Getty

Witty super bowl ads these are not. The commercials for foot pads that suck the toxins from your body are very straightforward: smack the cushions onto the soles of your feet, and overnight, the ads claim, you will sweat out metals, minerals and any other accumulated nastiness. Who wouldn't be appalled by the brown footprint left the next morning by a body newly unburdened of pollutants? And who wouldn't dial that toll-free number right away, credit card in (toxin-laden) hand? ( See the best and worst Super Bowl commercials of 2009. )

Hopefully, you. There's a seductive power to purging, particularly...

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