From Sand to Serotonin

Hey there. 

After spending the last week in South Florida, I’m reminded of the 3 longevity tools that I wrote about last March - morning sunshine, natural foods & generative community.

This year, however, I was struck by something even simpler… the relaxing feeling of walking barefoot in the sand.

Grounding, or “earthing,” is an age-old practice of connecting directly with the Earth’s energy.

While it was historically common to walk or sleep directly on the ground, modern lifestyles have created a disconnection.

Research now suggests that reconnecting with the Earth can balance your body’s electrical charges, synchronize your body with the Earth's natural frequencies, and positively impact your health.

Whether you're walking barefoot outside, feeling the sand between your toes, or using grounding devices, incorporating grounding into your life may offer a range of benefits.

Let’s dive in.

How Does Grounding Work?

Grounding is based on the basic idea that the Earth’s energy is vital for our physical bodies.

I recently learned that the Earth's surface contains a limitless & continuously renewed supply of free electrons.

Scientists believe that these electrons act as a discharge space for the body’s excess energy, which in turn promotes “intriguing physiological changes & subjective reports of well-being” (Chevalier).

Growing evidence shows that reconnecting to the Earth’s electronics can offer a host of benefits, which will explore further below.

When I first heard about this practice years ago, my science-mind had trouble buying it.

How could something as simple as touching the Earth be good for us?

But after reflecting on my time in the beach, it’s hard to deny the feeling of walking in the sand and/or jumping in the ocean.

Plus, I was encouraged to see how much research has been done on this topic.

Disconnection

The craziest thing about all this (imo) is that modern lifestyle separates humans from this direct contact with the Earth.

Throughout history, humans mostly walked barefoot or with footwear made of animal skins. They also slept on the ground or on skins.

Now, however, the modern world is increasingly disconnected with the Earth’s natural flow of energy & electrons.

Since the 1960s, shoes made of plastic & rubber have become increasingly popular.

Both of these materials are insulators - meaning, they’ll block the flow of electrons from the Earth to the body.

Folks like Kanye West would tell you that’s because the government wants to keep everyone disconnected & asleep.

And while I don’t agree with that idea (or support him), I think there’s a thread to pull there, based on what we’ve seen in other industries…

Many food companies, for example, often use lower quality food to drive lower costs (at the expense of customer’s health).

Take Kellogg’s, for a specific example, who uses artificial dyes in their products sold in America, where they’re outlawed in other countries, and thus made with less health-damaging materials.

In this & a number of other cases, there’s typically a profit motive.

As my partner’s grandfather likes to say, “follow the money.”

Are Nike & other shoe brands trying to disconnect people from the natural electrical exchange with the Earth? Probably not.

But there’s science now shows that there’s no doubt that it’s happening.

Therefore, I believe it’s important to:

1) be aware of it and

2) find ways to reconnect with the Earth through practices like grounding

Benefits of Grounding

Research on grounding is still limited, but preliminary results are encouraging.

Several studies, like the ones linked above, have shown that grounding may reduce inflammation, stress, and pain. It also may improve sleep, blood flow, and mood.

Additional research is still needed to determine whether grounding could be a useful treatment for illnesses and/or chronic pain, but for a practice that’s both easy & accessible, it seems like a no brainer.

Here is a closer look at what researchers have learned so far about grounding.

• Stress Reduction: Direct contact with the Earth can reduce cortisol levels, the stress hormone, promoting a sense of calm.

• Improved Sleep: Grounding may improve sleep quality by regulating cortisol levels and resetting your body's internal clock.

• Pain Relief: Some studies indicate that grounding can reduce inflammation and alleviate chronic pain.

• Boosted Mood: Connecting with the Earth has been linked to increased levels of serotonin, the feel-good neurotransmitter.

• Enhanced Energy: By restoring your body's balance and reducing inflammation, grounding can leave you feeling revitalized.

The Big Question

So, how can we get grounded?

It's as simple as stepping outside & connecting with the Earth.

Walking barefoot on grass, sand, or soil, are the best approaches, but if you don’t have access to land, there’s even grounding mats or sheets for indoors.

The Earth is literally at our feet, waiting to offer its incredible benefits.

Now that the weather is warming up, I will certainly be taking advantage of this time of year and getting my feet on the Earth at least once every two days.

What about you?

Thank you for Reading

I hope you found this one helpful and am wishing you a grounded week ahead.

Until next time.

With gratitude,

Aidan