If you ever worried that walking barefoot can negatively affect your health and hit you with the occasional cold, you can now rest assured and take your sneakers off every now and then!
A study published in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health titled Earthing: Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earth’s Surface Electrons revealed all the benefits our body gets from strolling around shoeless.
“Earthing” or more commonly known as grounding involves placing our feet directly on the ground while having no barrier made out of plastic or any kind of cloth between our feet and the soil.
The surface of the Earth is radiating with a negative charge which is rich in electrons and acts as a rich supplier of free-radicals and antioxidants that destroy the electrons.
So, whenever a charged object is grounded, the excessive charge is balanced through a transfer of electrons between the ground and the charged object.
That’s why putting our feet on the ground allow us to feel the energy that the Earth radiates and also absorb large amounts of negative electrons.
And even though, as humans, we couldn’t possibly imagine going to work without any shoes on, it is known that grounding can help us by increasing our wellbeing altogether.
The scientific research made it clear that any contact with Earth, whether it’s outdoors barefoot or indoors connected to the grounded conductive systems – can be a natural, simple, yet extremely effective method against chronic stress, inflammation, disturbed HRV, pain, ANS dysfunction, hypercoagulable blood and many other health disorders, including cardiovascular diseases.
Moreover, aside from the fact that earthing helps protect our wellbeing from inflammations and chronic degenerative diseases, it is also one of the most effective methods for improving sleep and relieving stress.
The study examined the effect sleeping grounded had on subjects which had insomnia and experienced pain. They slept grounded for 8 weeks.
The results of the research showed that their cortisol levels were decreased, their sleep was improved, and their pain and stress level were also normalized.
The same study further explains that earthing can indeed be an essential part of a healthy life. In addition to water, clean air, sunshine, physical activity and nutritious food, grounding can be just another beneficial habit we should definitely look forward to adopting it.
But, how can we easily get used to earthing?
As humans who strive to follow the convenient, conformist rules, we walk this Earth wearing shoes that are usually made of plastic or rubber soles.
These materials are known to act as insulators from electrical wires and they disconnect us from the electron flow radiation from the Earth surface.
Of course, we’re not suggesting you should take off your shoes at below zero temperature.
But, if you want to experience the “grounding sensation” replace those plastic sneakers with some leather shoes or even better free those feet and treat yourself to a nice walk around the park.
If you want to explore further about what does earthing/grounding is and how it can help you, make sure to check the video below:
SOURCES:
HTTPS://WWW.NCBI.NLM.NIH.GOV/PMC/ARTICLES/PMC3265077/
HTTPS://WWW.NCBI.NLM.NIH.GOV/PMC/ARTICLES/PMC4378297/
HTTP://WWW.PHYSICSCLASSROOM.COM/CLASS/ESTATICS/LESSON-2/GROUNDING-THE-REMOVAL-OF-A-CHARGE
