If you’re like most people, you spent part of your Memorial Day weekend relaxing and spending time with your family and friends.  You may also have spent a good part of this time outdoors either at a beach, park, or backyard cooking and celebrating your day off from work (assuming your city or county has not prohibited this because of the Covid-19 pandemic).  Spending time with your family and friends connecting is undoubtedly good for your mind, body and spirit.  More than these social aspects, however; the time you spend outdoors in the sunlight with nature has the added benefits of reconnecting your body with our Mother Earth.

Sunlight has numerous health benefits. Unlike sun screen and tanning lotions that are full of toxic chemicals and prevent your body from making vitamin D and other steroid hormones, sunlight, lowers cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, increases the oxygen content in your blood, and builds your immune system.  

Moreover, laying on the beach, walking barefoot on the grass, dirt or sand allows your body to make contact with the electrons and negative ions that are produced by our planet.  Researchers have found that making contact with the Earth (sand, grass, dirt, concrete) has several health promoting qualities.

“Earthing” (the term used to describe walking barefoot or making contact with the Earth) allows the electrons and negative ions that are naturally emitted by our planet to transfer into your body.   The transference of these electrons and negative ions into your body has numerous healing effects.  

Studies have found that the electrons and negative ions that are transferred to your body neutralize and scavenge free radicals (i.e., they act as antioxidants like eating blueberries or dark chocolate) and enhance your immune system.1    Studies have also found that “Earthing” can improve and normalize your sleep, circadian rhythms, blood oxygenation and heart rate variability as well as reduce levels of stress, cortisol, pain, blood viscosity and inflammation.2,3,4,5  So not only will you feel calmer but you will also recover more quickly from exercise and lower your risk for cardiovascular disease.6,7  

The simplest way to make sure you are receiving the electrons and negative ions from the Earth is to walk barefoot outside. 

Strive to do so whenever you have the opportunity.  Doing so every day for 30 to 45 minutes will help you take advantage of the most abundant and free source of healing energy available.  And if you cannot make it a part of your daily practice, you can also use modern technologies and footwear that can confer many of the same health benefits.

To your health and success,

Dr. Sandoval

To learn more about how working with a psychologist,  holistic health coach, and personal trainer can help you to enhance your health and well-being, call or email Dr. Sandoval to schedule a free consultation.

 

  1.  Chevalier, G, Sinatra, ST, Oschman, JL, Sokal, K and and Sokal, P. “Earthing: Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earth’s Surface Electrons” Journal of Environmental and Public Health. (2012) 2012: 291541. doi:  10.1155/2012/291541. 
  2.  Clinton, O., Sinatra, S. T., & Zucker, M. (2010). Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever? 
  3.  Ghal, M and Teplitz, D.  “The Biologic Effects of Grounding the Human Body During Sleep as Measured by Cortisol Levels and Subjective Reporting of Sleep, Pain, and Stress” ” Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine. (2004) 10, (5) 767–776. 
  4.  Chevalier, G and Sinatra, ST. “Emotional Stress, Heart Rate Variability, Grounding, and Improved Autonomic Tone: Clinical Applications” Integrative Medicine.  (2011) 10 (3) 16-21. 
  5.   Chevalier, G. “Changes in Pulse Rate, Respiratory Rate, Blood Oxygenation, Perfusion Index, Skin Conductance, and Their Variability Induced During and After Grounding Human Subjects for 40 Minutes” Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine. (2010) 16, (1) 81-87. 
  6.  Chevalier, G, Sinatra, ST, Oschman, JL, and Delany, RM. 4 “Earthing (Grounding) the Human Body Reduces Blood Viscosity—a Major Factor in Cardiovascular Disease” Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine. (2013) 19, (2) 102-110. 
  7.  Brown, D, Chevalier, G and Hill, M. “Pilot Study on the Effect of Grounding on Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness” Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine. (2010) 16, (3) 265-273.

The information, published and/or made available through the www.drjosesandoval.com website, is not intended to replace the services of a physician, nor does it constitute a physician-patient relationship. This blog is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use the information in this post for diagnosing or treating a medical or health condition. You should consult a physician in all matters relating to your health, particularly in respect to any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention.  Any action on the reader’s part in response to the information provided in this blog is at the reader’s discretion.