Do you know that simply walking barefoot on the ground offers you a myriad of health benefits? This process is called ‘earthing’ or ‘grounding.’ Walking barefoot and directly touching the soil allows people to absorb specific particles, specifically negative electrons. As a result, there’ll be a stabilized daily cortisol rhythm and a balanced internal bioelectrical environment.
These advantages are often neglected by modern mainstream society nowadays. Worse is, others might not have any idea about the health benefits of walking barefoot in the belief that not wearing footwear would lead to accidents, bacterial infections, etc. In this article, we will enlighten you with the health benefits of simply spending time barefoot in nature.
Earthing reduces inflammation and pain.
A study observed twelve participants who are suffering from pain, resulting in stress and sleep troubles. The researchers asked them to sleep for eight weeks straight over a conductive mattress pad, which imitates the effects of laying and sleeping directly on the Earth.
After the test period, the results showed that there was a significant decrease in the participants’ cortisol levels—the body’s primary stress hormone. More importantly, the participants revealed that their pain, together with their stress and insomnia, had either greatly minimized or diminished entirely.
Moreover, as it tends to lessen overall pain, there is no surprise that walking on the ground barefoot can ease pain from menstrual cramps, as well. Basically, pain within the body starts in one’s mind and will eventually turn into stress, depending on how you handle it. Consequently, this stress will significantly impact menstrual camps.
There are many pain relievers explicitly produced for women who are suffering from cramps. However, there is no need to spend money and stay indoor as earthing will still provide you with the same benefits—pain relief and mind relaxation—as those pain relievers without side effects. Earthing is totally safe and free for you.
Earthing improves sleep.
In connection with the first health benefit, walking barefoot also resets everyone’s biological clocks and regulates regular sleeping patterns. Our sleeping habits are profoundly and negatively affected by blue light and the radiation emitted from modern gadgets with LED screens and other environmental pollutants.
The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine reported that people who regularly walk barefoot tend to have a better night’s sleep than those who are not so exposed to earthing. Another study published in PubMed concluded that walking barefoot may induce relaxation and influence physiologic processes.
Further, the writers of the book entitled ‘Earthing’ also claimed that one’s biological should be ‘continually calibrated’ through the ‘pulse of the Earth,’ which does not only govern humans’ circadian rhythms, but all living creatures inhabiting in the planet.
All of the researchers from the mentioned studies or book discovered that earthing stabilize circadian rhythms, providing people a better night’s sleep. Your circadian rhythms are known to be your wake or sleep cycle. To be exact, it is your 24-hour internal clock that is repeatedly running in your brain’s background and regularly cycles in intervals between alertness and sleepiness.
Earthing regulates the nervous and strengthens the immune system.
Along with reducing one’s cortisol levels, walking barefoot on soil negates the positive charges we get from the electromagnetic waves in our technology. The idea of going outside can already balance our nervous system and reduce our anxiety and stress. Having direct contact with soil will regulate your emotions even more.
Specifically, earthing reduces the electromagnetic charge in our body and protects us from the harmful effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF), which often referred to as high-level radiation.
For instance, studies show that migraines resulted from prolonged exposure to radiation. As it will literally ground our body and reduce free radicals from EMF, earthing may also relieve headaches, too.
Another comprehensive report in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health discovered that earthing could also increase red blood cell count and decrease white blood count, stipulating a positive immune response.
Earthing reduces the possible risks of the heart of disease.
In addition to regulating red blood cell count resulting in an improved immune system, walking barefoot also reduces the possible risks of blood clots and heart attacks through decreasing blood thickness. Blood viscosity or thickness has significantly been associated with many risk factors related to heart disease; hence earthing may prevent heart disease.
A study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine explained that earthing tends to increase the surface charge of red blood cells that leads to the depletion of clumping in the cells. As a result, as one’s blood viscosity will be decreased, the risks of heart diseases will also be lessened.
Earthing maximizes workout and improves energy levels.
Sitting on your desk and working in front of your smart computers the whole day or engaging in physical exercises with Top Reviewed Brands workout equipment will all result in tensed muscles. The good thing is you can easily loosen up these tensed muscles through walking barefoot in your garden or lawn with a cup of coffee or protein shake on your hand.
Studies show that walking barefoot can prevent DOMS or delayed onset muscle soreness from occurring. DOMS is the stiffness or pain felt in your muscles that last for hours or days, which is common after engaging in strenuous exercises but may possibly when having a sedentary lifestyle.
What’s more, earthing also boosts your energy. Every time you walk barefoot on soil and immerse yourself with nature, bodies tend to absorb higher frequencies emitted from the green environment that increases our energy levels. Hence, after loosening up muscles, you’ll immediately be energized after walking barefoot—a great coffee break or cool down.
Takeaway
Human beings are so engrossed with modern and convenient lifestyles nowadays, gradually losing connection with Mother Earth. Look at what’s happening to the Earth’s glacier and Amazon rainforest now. We keep on overlooking the need of our mother nature and continually not protecting her well. Consequently, we are both losing her environmental and health benefits.