Why I Believe in Earthing (or “Grounding”)
August 17, 2020
Why I Believe in Grounding, and What Are Its Benefits?
Ever notice the feeling of almost instant restoration you find at the beach? Or maybe when you’re barefoot on the grass chasing the kids?
Grounding, or earthing, can maybe help explain why.
There’s a ton of research supporting the concept of “grounding,” which is, essentially, spending time barefoot on natural surfaces that allow for an exchange of electrons.
Some science suggests there is a transfer of electrons from the surface of the natural earth that can in turn have positive, anti-inflammatory effects on the body. According to this article, when you “plug into” the earth via grounding, you’re helping to basically re-wire your body’s electrical system to help it perform better.
And if you believe the research, this is a practice that can benefit multiple systems in the body, addressing issues like inflammation, cardiovascular disease, muscle damage, chronic pain, and mood.
I found this particularly interesting: “In a small study on grounding and heart health, 10 healthy participants were grounded using patches on the palms of their hands and soles of their feet.
“Blood measurements were taken before and after grounding to determine any changes in red blood cell fluidity, which plays a role in heart health. The results indicated significantly less red blood cell clumping after grounding, which suggests benefits for cardiovascular health.
“Another slightly larger study examined the role of grounding on post-exercise muscle damage. Researchers used both grounding patches and mats and measured creatine kinase, white blood cell count, and pain levels before and after grounding.
”Blood work indicated that grounding reduced muscle damage and pain in participants. This suggests that grounding may influence healing abilities.”
For me, it’s as simple as this: Time spent grounding—whether it’s with the kids in the back yard or during a beach day—immediately makes me feel better, both physically and spiritually.
Here’s how we ground. In the morning, I am starting to take the kids outside right away, barefoot. I’m a big believer in the importance of light, movement and hydration in the morning (especially after listening to Ed Mylett’s recent interview with neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman, who talks about how natural light in the first hour of the day literally wakes up your brain… I have to do a post on that one soon!) We spend about five minutes outside barefoot, soaking in some light and fresh air, and then I let them go back inside and bury their faces in their iPads for a bit. (It’s called balance.)
Of course our other favorite way to ground is at the beach! Living in Florida, we’re never too far away from a nice patch of sand and sun.
But if you don’t live near the beach, or the cold weather doesn’t allow you to go outside year-round to experience grounding, you can also purchase grounding mats that are said to have the same benefits as the real thing.
This one on Amazon gets great reviews, and so does this one.
Sometimes better health, or at the very least a better mood, is literally just a footstep away.
Now you tell me: Have you ever felt the benefits from grounding? Where’s your favorite spot to spend some barefoot time? Drop me a comment below! I’d love to hear!
