Why do so many of us equate relaxation and pleasure with walking barefoot along the beach as the waves roll in ( Do you? I Do!)?
Historically speaking, it seems like we’re right in step with our forbearers. Long before we had cushiony sneakers, our distant ancestors tended to walk barefoot over rock, rubble, dirt, stick, and thorn. Their feet were strong and nimble, able to sense and react to any surface they encountered. More recent native cultures often chose to walk through nature on their naked soles as well, instead of wearing moccasins or similar leather footwear.
Commonalities like “barefootedness”, that we see repeated among ancient groups, beg for further investigation as to “why?” – especially in cultures where simple foot gear was already an option.
Thankfully, there is good science behind shoelessness and the findings are fascinating!
It turns out that the sensation we feel when our feet make contact with moist sand is more than just a feeling. This therapeutic touch of mother Earth is laden with remarkable health benefits, such as reducing inflammation, boosting antioxidants in our body, improving sleep, and perhaps most importantly, promoting healthy blood flow.
The primordial practice of walking barefoot, sometimes referred to as “grounding”, is only just beginning to be studied by modern science, but there have already been a few groundbreaking findings. One of the most promising of these points to the effect that the contact of earth on skin can have on our heart health.
According to a 2013 study published in the Journal of Alternative And Complementary Medicine, walking barefoot “reduces blood viscosity, which is a major factor in cardiovascular disease”.
Blood viscosity is a term used to describe the “thickness and stickiness of your blood.” The lower the viscosity, the easier your blood flows through your blood vessels, and circulates throughout your body. The higher your blood’s viscosity, or thickness, the slower it moves.
To test the effects of grounding on blood viscosity, a group of subjects had their red blood cells (RBCs) examined under a microscope to determine the number of clumped groups of RBCs in each sample. High instances of aggregation (or clumping) in human blood increases your blood viscosity and can result in cardiovascular disease. This experiment was intended to measure whether grounding the body to the Earth’s innate electrical charge would have a positive effect on this blood condition and perhaps help to prevent the deadly disease that is linked to it.
Long story short, walking barefoot substantially lowered the instance of unwanted blood cell clumping in every one of the subjects and promoted healthier circulation.
*A later study in the same journal found that “grounding” or “earthing” may help regulate both the endocrine and nervous systems as well.
We now-day humans live in a sea of electromagnetic waves radiated by mobile phone signals, Wi-Fi, automatic doors etc. This is referred to as “dirty electricity” or “electromagnetic pollution”.
Luckily for us, the Earth’s surface is rich with electrons that can neutralize this dirty electricity and bring the currents within us back into healthy balance.
This can boost our energy, balance our mood, clarify our thinking, and perhaps even save our lives...
Stay shoeless, as much as possible (at least at home!) and don't forget to book a Massage or Facial! Love, T.