As a child, I remember being fascinated that one could change the color of a celery stalk or even a coffee filter simply by putting its tip in colored water. Many of us were exposed to this experiment as children because teachers often use it to show students how plants take in water and nutrients. But what's that got to do with feet?
According to a Danish urban myth, our feet can absorb alcohol in much the same way. The myth proposes that vodka can enter the blood stream through unbroken skin and cause intoxication if one stands in a puddle of it. Three Danish Ph.D. students set out to test this myth's validity by doing just that. In their comically named "PEACE ON EARTH" (Percutaneous Ethanol Absorption Could Evoke Ongoing Nationwide Euphoria And Random Tender Hugs) study, each stood in 700mL of vodka for three hours. Their behavior and blood alcohol levels were documented every half hour to gauge their absorption.
Aside from presumed pruning, observed changes were insignificant over the course of the study. Not surprisingly they concluded that we, unlike celery, are incapable of absorbing nutrients through the skin of our feet.
The point of all of this is that our skin is designed to keep out everything from infections to vodka. When our skin is compromised through a cut or an ulcer, it can no longer do its job. Proper foot care and visiting your podiatrist when the need arises will keep your feet healthy - and apparently sober.
If you'd like to read more about the study, visit British Medical Journal: PEACE ON EARTH.
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