It’s Time To Kick Off The Shoes And Go Barefoot

These days walking Barefoot is a foreign concept. Most of us wear shoes everywhere we go; around the house, in the car and outside.

Did You know that by constantly wearing shoes you are missing out on some pretty great health benefits?

Next time you are outside remove your shoes and walk barefoot on the ground in particular on the grass if there is some close by. There is a name for this, It’s the action of feeling the soles of your feet connect with the surface of the Earth. It’s called Grounding and has a “feel good” effect similar to that feeling of the warmth of the sun on your skin.

Humans are electrical beings and we produce positive charges on a regular basis. If these charges are at an excess, they have the potential to oxidise and become harmful to our health.

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine published results that showed within the surface of the Earth there is a limitless and renewed amount of free electrons due to the global atmospheric electron circuit. So the Science behind the positive effects of grounding are that when we walk barefoot on the ground, our feet are able to absorb the Earths negative electrons.

Over time technology and introduction of modern lifestyle essentials have “removed” us from mother nature and as result disconnected us from the electrical potential of the Earths surface. We continually sleep off the ground, we wear shoes with rubber or plastic soles and in turn are removing ourselves from the electrical environment stabilisation of cells, tissues and organs.

Specialising in Stress and Sleep Issues, this is where barefoot walking really excites me. Evidence from research supports the theory that the negative potential from the Earth can support a “stable internal bioelectrical environment which means the body as a whole will be functioning better. In particular the effects may enable regulating of the natural body clock via secretion of Cortisol.

Research suggests that walking barefoot outdoors will encourage free radicals to be neutralised within the body helping inflammation to be reduced both at an acute and chronic level. Results published in the Journal of Environment and Public Health showed that Grounding had positive improvements on the following health issues;

  • Sleep Disturbance
  • Sleep Apnoea
  • Chronic Muscle Pain
  • Joint Pain
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Respiratory Conditions Such As Asthma.
  • Stress
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
  • Stress
  • Energy
  • Immune System Acitivity
  • Fasting Glucose Levels In Diabetics

The Journal of Environmental and Public Health states that grounding may be a simple, natural, and yet profoundly effective environmental strategy against chronic stress, ANS [autonomic nervous system] dysfunction, inflammation, pain, poor sleep, disturbed HRV [heart rate variability], hypercoagulable blood, and many common health disorders, including cardiovascular disease’’.

So how do we reap these benefits from this barefoot task?

Researchers suggest that if you are aiming to reduce pain and stress you may see results walking barefoot for 30 to 80 minutes daily. So next time you are outside please, take off your shoes and absorb Mother Natures negative electrons.

References
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2007 Nov;13(9):955-67
Journal of Environmental and Public Health. 2012; 2012: 291541
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