Touch Grass
Take Off Your Shoes! Or the Health Benefits of Grounding
Published in Reader’s Club, 1/23/25
We have all heard that one of the best ways to improve our health and reduce stress is to spend time outdoors. This not only includes taking walks and soaking up some Vitamin D from the sun (while wearing sunscreen, of course), but many experts believe that we gain the most benefits by walking barefoot on the earth, or grounding in other ways. Maybe this is why that walk on the beach, and having our toes in the sand always feels so restorative.
So take off your shoes and go outside! Right now it is very cold everywhere so you can benefit from cold therapy at the same time and get a double dose of health benefits!
Why is Grounding Important?
Grounding, or Earthing, is a practice where you connect with the earth by walking barefoot outside, like standing on grass. This simple act allows your body to absorb the earth’s natural electric charge, potentially offering several health benefits.
Historically, people had more contact with nature, but today, many lack this connection, leading to positive static electric charge buildup. Grounding helps neutralize these charges by absorbing negative electrons.
Sometimes referred to as “vitamin G,” Grounding has gained interest from specialists who link it to “electron deficiency syndrome,” which may contribute to various health issues.
Embracing outdoor experiences can help restore balance and harmony within our bodies.
Health Benefits of Grounding
Reduced Inflammation
Lowered Stress and Cortisol Levels
Improved Sleep Quality
Improved Blood Flow
Other Ways to Get Grounded
Indoor Grounding Systems — Do they work?
Sometimes it is just not practical or physically possible to go outside barefoot on a regular basis. Many people avoid walking barefoot outdoors, except on beach vacations. Various grounding systems allow for frequent Earth contact during activities like sleeping, working, or walking.
These solutions include sheets, mats, wrist and ankle bands, and footwear that connect to the Earth via a cord plugged into a grounded outlet or a rod in the soil outside.
There is an abundance of grounding mats on Amazon and other sources if you are interested in learning more.
According to Health.com, the research on grounding is still in its early stages and most studies are small in scale, but initial findings are promising. Some studies suggest that grounding may help reduce inflammation, stress, and pain. Additionally, it may enhance sleep quality, improve blood circulation, and positively affect overall vitality.
However, more extensive research is necessary to understand whether grounding could be an effective treatment for diseases, chronic pain, and other conditions. In the meantime, let’s explore what researchers have discovered about grounding thus far.
Potential to Enhance Mood
Studies indicate that spending one hour a day on grounding may elevate mood and encourage relaxation. Participants who engaged in grounding using conductive pillows, mats, and patches while resting in recliners exhibited statistically significant mood improvements and reported feeling more pleasant.
Nevertheless, researchers pointed out that further study is essential to ascertain how this method might be utilized in the future.
May Improve Quality of Life
One research study involving massage therapists found that the use of grounding mats bolstered their energy levels and reduced fatigue. Those who experienced grounding reported improvements in physical abilities and significant declines in feelings of depression, tiredness, and pain when compared to those who were not grounded. Researchers suggested that grounding might promote overall well-being and enhance quality of life.
Potential to Lower Blood Pressure
There are also indications that grounding may assist in lowering blood pressure among individuals with hypertension. Researchers instructed 10 participants to perform self-administered grounding therapy to try to decrease their blood pressure readings.
What they found was that all participants showed improvements in their blood pressure by the end of the study. In fact, their systolic levels averaged a reduction of 14.3%.
