Nature is Cool: The Science of Grounding

Have you ever stopped to let your bare feet enjoy the feeling the soil or sand?

If you have, you’ve definitely felt the effects of grounding. It leaves you feeling relaxed and content. If you haven’t, I strongly encourage you to try walking barefoot outside to literally connect with the earth’s energy.

What is grounding?

Grounding, sometimes known as earthing, is the act of making direct physical contact with the ground. Being able to connect to the Earth in this fashion has huge health benefits. Unfortunately, our modern fast-paced lifestyle does not pay attention to such contact. For example, we wear rubber and plastic soled shoes to avoid direct contact with the ground, and we no longer sleep on the ground as in ancient times.

Grounding is a long forgotten healthy habit that you should consider re-incorporating, when possible.

Grounding has some surprisingly positive effects on your health and overall well-being. Just like healthy eating and exercise, it can help with health maintenance, prevent diseases, and is a great resource for psychological therapy. Reconnecting with the earth’s surface has been scientifically proven to promote positive physiological changes. Pretty cool! Right?!

The awesome science of grounding.

The science behind grounding all comes down to the transfer of electrons. Everything in the earth including plants, people, animals, and inanimate objects are all electrical objects. Simply, we are all made of atoms on a molecular level. These atoms can collectively carry a positive, negative, or neutral charge. The earth itself even contains a natural, subtle electric charge.

Our bodies have a myriad of positively charged electrons, due to things like free radicals (a by-product of our bodies making energy). The earth, on the other hand, has an endless supply of negatively charged electrons. Grounding, therefore, provides a better atomic balance. Helping the human body stay more neutral in its charge has a protective effect on our tissues.

Grounding is a way to balance all that technology.

Currently, electromagnetic radiations from phones, laptops, and other electrical devices also induce a voltage in our bodies. As a result, certain important electrical communications in the body are disrupted. Grounding reduces the levels of the voltage induced and protects us against electromagnetic pollution.

The Health Benefits of Grounding

Grounding is a really simple exercise with numerous benefits. People have reported feelings of connection and awareness of nature and mother earth.

So why is grounding important?

• Regulates cortisol, which is the body’s major stress hormone. This ensures that stress levels are low and the body recovers from stress quickly.
• Significantly improves sleep.
• Decreases inflammation the body has accumulated from regular cell functions in addition to unhealthy habits and illness.
• Improves the body’s innate immunity to help ward of disease.
• Improves our ability to digest, deriving the most nutrients possible from our diet.
• Increases blood circulation to optimize all cellular functions and accelerate healing time when injury or illness does occur.
• Reduces (or better manages) symptoms of chronic pain.
• Increases energy and vitality. By decreasing the burden of free radicals with all normal bodily functions, such as detoxification and digestion.

How to be grounded.

The best way to exercise grounding is by going barefoot outside. Sit, stand, lay or walk on conductive surfaces such as soil, sand, grass, or even plain concrete.

Non-conducive surfaces include; wood, asphalt, sealed or painted concrete, and vinyl. They block the flow of electrons.

For people who rarely have time to go outside, or those that live in a climate that has cold winters, there is an entire market of grounding products you can check out. These include:

• Earthing sheets
• Shoes
• Mats
• Patches
• Bed pads
• Body bands

Others ways to be grounded is by swimming in the lake or ocean, hugging a tree, or gardening with bare hands. (So find your inner hippie, and enjoy!)

The bottom line.

Grounding has many health benefits and it’s totally free to go outside and soak up some of the Earth’s energy. The mixture of fresh air, sunshine, and the sounds of nature is practically breathtaking.  If you find yourself a little stressed out, go out, sit barefoot or lay on the ground. Try to make it a regular part of your daily routine. Nature is good for our bodies and soul, go outside and feel energetic.