Grounding, also referred to as earthing, means having direct contact with the earth — such as walking barefoot. Researchers have found numerous benefits when we do grounding, such as reducing pain and inflammation, and even improving sleep.

It might be too unbelievable that walking barefoot could actually improve our health. But there’re scientific reasons behind… As the earth emits negative electrons, they penetrate our bodies when we walk barefoot. These electrons have remarkable benefits that many of us have never imagined.

It will reduce free radicals and inflammation in your body

Free radicals are produced from our electronic devices, the sun’s rays, x-rays, cigarettes, and various chemicals. We’re always in a battle with free radicals and it’s impossible to avoid them. Free radicals are necessary for metabolic processes, but too many free radicals can hurt our bodies and cause chronic diseases.

Research indicates that antioxidants neutralize the free radicals that contribute to our body’s inflammatory responses. Because grounding has antioxidant effects, it can disarm these free radicals, thus reducing inflammation.

It will improve your mood

Does a day spent walking barefoot at the beach or in your backyard improve your mood? You’re not alone. According to a study by Gaétan Chevalier, participants who were grounded for one hour reported improvements in their moods, as opposed to those who were not grounded. The study concludes that additional studies are warranted. However, if the positive effects are confirmed, grounding could be an easy way to decrease depression, anxiety, and stress.

It will improve your sleep

If you’re one of the many who suffer from chronic sleep issues or occasional insomnia, grounding might help you get the sleep you need by reducing cortisol levels. In a study published by The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, subjects that grounded during sleep by using a conductive mattress pad had reduced nighttime levels of cortisol and their 24-hour circadian cortisol profiles became closer to normal. Cortisol has been called the “stress hormone” that can lower our quality of sleep.

It will accelerate tissue repair and wound healing

It has been reported that Tour De France racers have successfully used Earthing Recovery Bags for tissue repair and recovery with amazing results. The Earthing Recovery Bag, which resembles a sleeping bag, cocoons the athletes in energy to provide healing properties. With this being said, if you want to speed up tissue repair, try exercising, meditating, or practicing yoga outdoors while barefoot. It’s an inexpensive way to incorporate grounding into your daily life and reap the benefits that these elite athletes have experienced.

It will boost your heart health

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States — it results in about 610,000 deaths each year. According to a grounding study, earthing or grounding can boost heart health by reducing blood viscosity and clumping. Essentially, grounding increases the Zeta Potential on red blood cells. Red blood cells have a negative electrical charge. When the negative charge is greater, the cells repel one another, which improves blood flow. It should be noted that those who take blood thinners should consult with their physicians before adding grounding to their daily routines.

It will reduce the symptoms of PMS

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms such as bloating, irritability, fatigue, headache, and depression can be uncomfortable and bothersome. Traditional ways of relieving PMS, such as medications and lifestyle changes, are not always effective. Grounding can help relief PMS symptoms for some women by reducing cortisol. Stress, which leads to high cortisol levels, can make PMS worse. This is why many women report improvements in PMS when practicing grounding. As an added benefit, grounding can reduce pain and inflammation, which are common PMS symptoms.

It will help you recover from your workouts

Muscle soreness after workouts, generally referred to as Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS), is a common side effect of strenuous or new exercise. There are several ways to relieve it, such as supplements, ice, massage, and foam rolling. Moreover, a pilot study from The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine shows that grounding has the potential to reduce the recovery time from DOMS and improve muscle function.

It will help you lose weight

When our energy is out of balance, we tend to make bad food choices by consuming things that are not good for us. Also, when we’re under stress, cortisol is released which signals our brains to seek out comfort foods and drinks, such as sugary sweets and alcoholic drinks. On the other hand, when we’re getting adequate sleep, not having pain, and feeling less stress, it’s easier to make healthy choices. As a result, all of these benefits of grounding work together to assist in weight loss.

How to get grounded

Every day find some time to take off your shoes as most of them are insulators which stop electrons from the earth penetrating into our bodies. Surfaces that allow grounding:

• sand
• grass
• bare soil
• unpainted/unsealed concrete and brick

Surfaces that can’t get us grounded:

• wood
• vinyl
• carpet
• sealed tiles