It may sound extremely hippie-like to advise you (with love) to go out in nature and put your bare feet upon the earth in order to improve your health. Hug a tree while you’re at it!
Multiple peer-reviewed studies, however, demonstrate the health benefits of grounding (also called earthing), which simply means putting your bare feet on the ground. Grounding can help issues with every bodily system—improving immune function, helping you sleep better, increasing metabolic function, balancing hormones, reducing inflammation, boosting energy, reducing pain, improving circulation and balancing blood sugar, cholesterol levels, neurotransmitters and much more.
So, how does it work? Here are some important elements of grounding:
We are electrical beings:
Down to the cellular level, our bodies operate on an electrical system and utilize a multiple of frequencies to function properly. These include muscle contraction, activation of our nervous system, our intricate cardiovascular system and even operating your immune function. They all involve electricity.
The heart and brain are vital organs that are regulated by electrical conduction. Your heart’s pumping mechanism is maneuvered through electrical conduction, which performs muscle contractions, moving blood through the chambers. Neurons in your brain communicate through a sophisticated electrical system that allows communication through both electrical charges and chemicals.
The earth is electrically charged:
Think of the earth as a docking station. It contains a unique negatively charged energy that transmits from the ground. Everything is connected to it, including us. Earth’s electrical system is enormous and is in synergy with our own. Just as you recharge your cell phone in order for it to function properly, our bodies are charged by the earth.
Grounding equalizes this energy through the transfer of electrons from the Earth to our bodies. The body and the earth come together with the same electric potential, which cancels, reduces or recharges electric fields in our bodies, hence both protecting and refueling us down to the cellular level.
Energy from the earth feeds us daily. The food we eat, oxygen we breathe and elements we attain from nutrients and supplementation all possess specific electrical charges. High energy elements of the earth also include sunshine, drinking spring water and eating organic fruits and vegetables. Hugging a tree? That is also highly energetic. The vibrational energy of trees increases our levels of oxytocin and serotonin, responsible for positive emotions and a sense of calm and relaxation. In addition, oils from trees called phytoncides are emitted in the air, which stimulate our immune system, helping us to fight infection, chronic illness, even cancer.
Modern lifestyle separates humans from contact with the earth:
Our shoes may be negatively impacting our health. Research demonstrates that our disconnect from nature and grounding’s electric energy may be responsible for the spike in chronic illnesses evident in our society today.
In our industrialized society, we frequently walk outside wearing rubber-soled shoes, which serves as a barrier between the ground and our bodies. This disconnects us from our vital docking station.
Many generations ago, our ancestors slept on the ground, wore leather-soled shoes that allowed more connection to the earth. They worked outside, their hands in the soil.
Since the late 20th century, chronic diseases have been on the rise, far surpassing mortality rates of infectious disease.
Sitting on the ground, standing barefoot and walking on earth, grass or sand for a half hour a day can improve a variety of illness-related symptoms.
To be “grounded” affects us mentally and physically:
When someone is mentally balanced, relaxed, centered and solid, we describe them as being grounded. Putting your bare feet on the earth affects us both mentally and physically.
In grounding studies on inflammation and pain, participants experienced an overall 30% reduction in pain, 70% reduction in pain interfering sleep and 30% reduction in morning stiffness.
Other grounding studies have demonstrated grounding’s ability to reduce and regulate certain hormones, such as cortisol, which is the body’s stress response hormone. Grounding also helped control blood sugar levels, regulate metabolism and even improve memory.
Grounding may have an impact on circulatory and blood-related issues, even cardiovascular function. Another study showed that grounding reduces heart rate and blood pressure and demonstrated that grounding reduces blood viscosity clotting.
Aside from grounding, diet modifications and incorporating a regular exercise routine, supplementing can ensure you are helping to promote optimal health and wellness.
Brain and Heart Health:
At the cellular level, your mitochondria are in charge of producing energy, protecting cells from damage caused by oxidative stress and fighting off bacteria and viruses.
Mitochondria are found in abundance in your vital organs, such as your heart and brain. CoQ10 is an innate compound that’s stored in the mitochondria, so it’s found in greater amounts in these vital organs. CoQ10 helps support mitochondrial function. As we age, CoQ10 levels drop, making our vital organs vulnerable to damage.
Our MicroActive® CoQ10 Enhanced with MicroPQQ® + Shilajit (IMPROVED Formula) is a triple-action heart health and cellular energy support formula specifically designed to fuel mitochondria and protect mitochondrial function while promoting biogenesis. This unique complex contains highly bioavailable forms which are universally absorbed with much higher effectiveness levels when compared to standard CoQ10 & PQQ alone. The combined ingredients are clinically-studied with results showing improvement in short-term memory, focus and cognitive health.
Immune Support and Bone Health:
Vitamin A helps your body to produce white bloods cells that fight infection and cleanse the blood to support the lymphatic system. Studies have demonstrated that Vitamin A has positive effects on various respiratory diseases, such as pneumonia and measles as well as digestive diseases.
Our Vegan A-D-K provides 5-IN-1-SUPPORT: Utilizing two forms of Micellized Vitamin A (palmitate and betacarotene), VEGAN Vitamin D3 along with two essential forms of K2 (MK-4 + MK-7). Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, while Vitamin K2 helps the body ensure that calcium is properly utilized (i.e., that it is ending up in the bones and not in the heart and blood vessels). Vitamin K2 keeps calcium in bones and teeth and out of soft tissues.
Energy Levels and Mental Health:
B vitamin deficiencies may present as fatigue, adrenal issues, chronic stress, anemia, dry skin/dandruff, brain fog and mental health symptoms-depression, mood swings and diagnosed psychological disorders.
B vitamins are crucial for proper methylation, DNA synthesis and neurological and cognitive function.
Our Methyl B Complete contains five key nutrients that are involved in homocysteine metabolism: folate as calcium folinate and Quatrefolic® for increased bioactivity; Trimethylglycine (TMG); and vitamins B12 (a combination of Methylcobalamin & Adenosylcobalamin), B6, and B2 (riboflavin). This unique formula was created to support optimal methylation and help sustain healthy homocysteine levels
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3265077/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15650465/
https://chopra.com/articles/grounding-the-human-body-the-healing-benefits-of-earthing
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3265077/
https://www.ultimatelongevity.com/docs/grounding-research-study-summaries.pdf