# Can you absorb micronutrients by walking barefoot? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 9, 2007, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-absorb-micronutrients-by-walking-barefoot/414952 "2007-08-09T02:45:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-absorb-micronutrients-by-walking-barefoot/414952/1 "2007-08-09T02:45:07Z")
A holistically-inclined friend of mine assured me it was so. As someone who enjoys callused-skin-on-ground travel, I find the idea appealing. Of course it’s some sort of urban legend…or is it? (yeah, I’m too lazy to look up a cite) ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-absorb-micronutrients-by-walking-barefoot/414952/2 "2007-08-09T02:46:22Z")
No. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-absorb-micronutrients-by-walking-barefoot/414952/3 "2007-08-09T02:50:56Z")
Just to pound the point home. I’m sure that Q.E.D. was responding, correctly, to the thread title. But no isn’t the right answer to the question in the thread itself, “Of course it’s some sort of urban legend…or is it?” It is an urban legend. Assuming that anyone else besides your friend actually believes this. Assuming even your friend believes this. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-absorb-micronutrients-by-walking-barefoot/414952/4 "2007-08-09T02:53:47Z")
Good lord, I hang out with some real woo-woo dippyflakes, but even I haven’t heard this one. I agree, no, this is ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-absorb-micronutrients-by-walking-barefoot/414952/5 "2007-08-09T02:57:56Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] It is an urban legend. [/QUOTE] I would not classify this as an urban legend. It’s simply an untrue factoid. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-absorb-micronutrients-by-walking-barefoot/414952/6 "2007-08-09T03:02:45Z")
Of course I didn’t believe her–she also thinks that drinking water from plastic bottles causes cancer. I just said that the barefoot idea appealed to me. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-absorb-micronutrients-by-walking-barefoot/414952/7 "2007-08-09T03:08:10Z")
Where do people come up with these ideas? The only organic thing you are likely to absorb through your feet by going barefoot outside is [hookworm](http://www.cdc.gov/NCIDOD/dpd/parasites/hookworm/factsht_hookworm.htm). ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-absorb-micronutrients-by-walking-barefoot/414952/8 "2007-08-09T03:20:39Z")
[QUOTE=blondebear] Of course I didn’t believe her–she also thinks that drinking water from plastic bottles causes cancer. [/QUOTE] What does she carry water in? Ceramic bottles? Wood bottles? Leather bladders? Metal canteens? Inquiring minds want to know! ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-absorb-micronutrients-by-walking-barefoot/414952/9 "2007-08-09T03:23:13Z")
[QUOTE=groman] What does she carry water in? Ceramic bottles? Wood bottles? Leather bladders? Metal canteens? Inquiring minds want to know! [/QUOTE] It’s been rumored that some bottles are made of glass. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-absorb-micronutrients-by-walking-barefoot/414952/10 "2007-08-09T03:27:50Z")
I suspect that she was talking to someone who knew someone who read an article like this in some magazine: [Compound BPA article @ medcalnewstoday](http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/78904.php) ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-absorb-micronutrients-by-walking-barefoot/414952/11 "2007-08-09T03:28:21Z")
[QUOTE=blondebear] Can you absorb micronutrients by walking barefoot? [/QUOTE] **YES** you can, insofar as Hookworms, being collections of living cells, _do_ contain micronutrients. > [@](#): > > **How do I get a hookworm infection?** > > You can become infected by direct contact with contaminated soil, generally through walking barefoot, or accidentally swallowing contaminated soil. [CDC on Hookworms](http://www.cdc.gov/NCIDOD/dpd/parasites/hookworm/factsht_hookworm.htm) ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-absorb-micronutrients-by-walking-barefoot/414952/12 "2007-08-09T03:28:22Z")
[QUOTE=Derleth] Where do people come up with these ideas? The only organic thing you are likely to absorb through your feet by going barefoot outside is hookworm. [/QUOTE] Well that depends on what exactly is _outside_. If there’s pools of dimethylmercury, tetramethyllead, or trifluoromethanesulfonic acid outside you’re liable to have some absorption if you go barefoot as well. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-absorb-micronutrients-by-walking-barefoot/414952/13 "2007-08-09T03:28:46Z")
[QUOTE=Derleth] Where do people come up with these ideas? The only organic thing you are likely to absorb through your feet by going barefoot outside is [hookworm](http://www.cdc.gov/NCIDOD/dpd/parasites/hookworm/factsht_hookworm.htm). [/QUOTE] Good point–hookworms are almost certainly chock full of micronutrients, too. I bet they’re a great source of selenium. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-absorb-micronutrients-by-walking-barefoot/414952/14 "2007-08-09T03:29:37Z")
[QUOTE=friedo] It’s been rumored that some bottles are made of glass. [/QUOTE] :smack: Jesus christ! I can’t believe I just had a brain fart where I forgot the existence of glass. Wow. I need to stop working and go outside. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-absorb-micronutrients-by-walking-barefoot/414952/15 "2007-08-09T03:33:46Z")
[QUOTE=Left Hand of Dorkness] I bet they’re a great source of selenium. [/QUOTE] Thank you so much for the best laugh I’ve had all week. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-absorb-micronutrients-by-walking-barefoot/414952/16 "2007-08-09T14:17:53Z")
[QUOTE=groman] :smack: Jesus christ! I can’t believe I just had a brain fart where I forgot the existence of glass. Wow. I need to stop working and go outside. [/QUOTE] Watch out for the hookworms. ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-absorb-micronutrients-by-walking-barefoot/414952/17 "2007-08-09T14:26:38Z")
[QUOTE=Squink] **YES** you can, insofar as Hookworms, being collections of living cells, _do_ contain micronutrients. [/QUOTE] [Homer voice] Ummmmmm… hookworms… [/Homer voice] * * * True Blue Jack ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-absorb-micronutrients-by-walking-barefoot/414952/18 "2007-08-09T17:49:30Z")
[QUOTE=Derleth] Where do people come up with these ideas? The only organic thing you are likely to absorb through your feet by going barefoot outside is [hookworm](http://www.cdc.gov/NCIDOD/dpd/parasites/hookworm/factsht_hookworm.htm). [/QUOTE] And possibly leprosy! ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-absorb-micronutrients-by-walking-barefoot/414952/19 "2007-08-09T18:08:41Z")
_You are what you [del]ea[/del] absorb through your feet?_ ---
**Author:** ![sjc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@sjc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sjc)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-absorb-micronutrients-by-walking-barefoot/414952/20 "2007-08-09T20:06:26Z")
A little off topic, but when I carry my water with me I use a glass bottle as much as possible. Not so much for health reasons as because I think the water tastes better. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-absorb-micronutrients-by-walking-barefoot/414952.md?page=2)