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This research may blow your socks off

Dr. Steven Heidinger writes about the benefits of "grounding"
Wellness_DrStevenHeidinger
Wellness Column by Dr. Steven Heidinger

As a family, we were blessed to have been able to go on a beach vacation this past winter. There are a few things in life that give me that feeling of “being able to exhale.” Standing on the beach, listening to the waves hitting the shore, is one of those things that brings me to near perfect calm.

Recently, I was doing some yard work in the backyard and afterwards I took off my shoes and walked barefoot in the grass for a few minutes. While there was no sand between my toes, no ocean air to smell or waves to hear (nor beverage in my hand), I had a similar feeling of calm. Is this what it means to feel grounded

Grounding means being in direct contact with the, well…ground. Whether it be grass, dirt, sand, water, snow, ice, etc., if you have nothing between your feet and the ground, you are grounded. While this may sound kind of flaky to some, research is telling us that being grounded has many real health benefits.

One study performed on massage therapists revealed the ones that did their work while being grounded experienced less anxiety and depression, improved sleep, and they felt more relaxed. Other studies show that grounding improves heart rate variability (an indication the body responds well to stress), reduces acute and chronic inflammation and pain, improves healing and strengthens the structure of the body’s individual cells.

Apparently, the type of ground you are in contact with will affect the quality of the grounding. Grass is thought to be the best, especially when there is dew on it, as the higher humidity improves the contact with the ground, and the apparent transfer of electrons between foot and ground.

Some “grounding experts” recommend up to two hours of grounding each day. For those who work indoors or live in concrete jungles, never experiencing grass, earth or sand, there are special grounding mats that can mimic foot-to-earth contact.

I don’t think we were meant to don footwear as much as we do.  Maybe it’s one factor adding to the chronic health problems that plague our society. While it may not be socially acceptable (nor safe) to go barefoot at work, we should try to spend more of our free time in direct contact with the earth.

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