“Earthing” also called “Grounding”

This stems from the idea that in modern city life we no longer have direct physical contact with the Earth, and therefore are losing out on purported health benefits of exchanging electrons with the surface of our planet.

A 2007 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine demonstrated that connecting the human body to the earth during sleep (earthing) normalizes the daily cortisol rhythm and improves sleep patterns. This is because of the effects that stress hormones have on your natural circadian rhythm, energy and ability to sleep soundly.

Earthing eliminates the potentially harmful effects of the electromagnetic fields given off by all the electronic devices that surround us.

Certain footwear, including flip-flops and tight-fitting or high-heeled shoes, may damage your foot structure and change the dynamics of how you walk.

For instance, high heels (generally described as a heel height of 2 inches or higher) shift your foot forward into an unnatural position with increased weight on your toes.

Your body tilts forward, so you lean backwards and overarch your back to compensate. This posture changes the normal human gait and adds tremendous strain to your hips, lower back and your knees.

When's the last time you kicked your shoes off and took a walk in the grass — or let mud squish between your toes or sand warm the bottoms of your feet?

Going barefoot almost becomes taboo once you're past school age, and even children are often scolded should they toss off their shoes in favor of going bare.

But there's much to gain, and typically little risk, by going barefoot more often, both for children and adults. Many who have adopted a barefoot lifestyle say they made the switch because it feels natural; it feels good. 

"It sounds corny, but there's something nice about feeling the earth you're walking on. You're just more connected to the world," barefoot devotee Kyle Vaughn told ABC News.

ABC News March 2, 2011

By North American standards, due to having gone barefoot and having worn sandels most of my life, my toes are very fairly straight and spread out. But when I travel in India in rural areas I'm often amazed at how straight and well spread out the toes of indigenous folks are - people who don't even own a shoe. They are truly well adapted to grounding. And they have no parasite issues!

First, ask yourself, seriously, why it is you think your feet need "support"? This is shoe company jive.

 Just about any sandals are fine, so long as they are flat - heels or arch supports are not needed, and will in fact more likely cause problems eventually. While many of them are made with a wedge shaped slope design instead of a clearly distinguished heel, as long as they are flat there is no problem with them, as most of Asia will agree. The best sandals are not thick soled, but flexible and flat.

At a modern workplace it is (unfortunately) not acceptable to arrive and walk around bare footed. Is there any benefit for doing so when possible for a few hours a week in the park/garden?

If typical, your work environment is EMF polluted - educate yourself for your own health. There are products available you can safely use in your work environment without breaking dress code. A starting point:

[https://www.earthing.com/]. Earthing/grounding anytime is all good!

Many Shoes Interfere With Grounding

Many people spend most of their waking hours wearing shoes with rubber or plastic soles. These materials are very effective insulators that will disconnect you from the Earth's natural electron flow.

Walking barefoot is one of the easiest and best ways to stay grounded, but you'll need to do so on the proper surface. Leather-soled shoes will also allow you to stay grounded with the Earth. Good grounding surfaces include:

·       Sand (beach)

·       Grass (preferably moist)

·       Bare soil

·       Concrete and brick (as long as it's not painted or sealed)

·       Ceramic tile

The following surfaces will NOT ground you:

·       Asphalt

·       Wood

·       Rubber and plastic

·       Vinyl

·       Tar or tarmac

In today's world, this is more important than ever, yet fewer people than ever actually connect with the Earth in this way anymore. Free radical stress from exposure to pollution, cigarettes , insecticides, pesticides, trans fats, and radiation, just to name a few, continually deplete your body of electrons.

Simply by getting outside, barefoot, touching the Earth, and allowing the excess charge in your body to discharge into the Earth, you can alleviate some of the stress continually put on your system. So the next time you feel the urge to kick off your shoes, go ahead and try it. You just might like it.

Wearing Shoes May Lead to Higher Injury Rates

It's often assumed that going without shoes is dangerous, but if you use commonsense precautions it's unlikely to cause you any harm. In the developed world, for instance, you're unlikely to pick up parasites or infectious diseases by going barefoot.

You're probably more likely to pick up such maladies via your hands, not your feet. Wearing shoes, on the other hand, may increase your risk of toe fungus and athlete's foot, and may even increase your risk of injury. Research reviewed by Michael Warburton, a physical therapist in Australia, revealed:

Sports Science 5(3), 2001

·       Running-related chronic injuries to bone and connective tissue in the legs are rare in developing countries, where most people are habitually barefooted

·       Where barefoot and shod populations co-exist, such as in Haiti, injury rates of the lower extremity are substantially higher in the shod population

·       Wearing footwear increases the likelihood of ankle sprains, one of the most common sports injuries, because it either decreases your awareness of foot position or increases the twisting torque on your ankle during a stumble

·       One of the most common chronic injuries in runners, plantar fasciitis (an inflammation of the ligament running along the sole of your foot), is rare in barefoot populations

·       Running in bare feet reduces oxygen consumption by a few percent

The Tarahumara people of northwestern Mexico are one of the few modern-day cultures that still embrace barefoot living and, famously, barefoot running.

The tribes are among the most skilled runners in the world, running up to 200 miles over a two-day period. Notably, they run barefoot, and this has been suggested as the reason for their remarkable athletic prowess

Disclaimer: The information on this POST is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional advice . The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this article is for general information purposes / educational purposes only, and to ensue discussion or debate.

Thank you … When was the last time you walked barefoot in the sand, grass, or in a forest? For most people, this doesn’t happen very often. But we’re now learning that there might be more of a reason for you to start making these types of activities a priority.

Your body runs through a type of electrical current. As the Journal of Environmental and Public Health states:

It is an established, though not widely appreciated fact, that the Earth’s surface possesses a limitless and continuously renewed supply of free or mobile electrons. The Earth’s negative charges can create a stable internal bio -electrical environment for the normal functioning of all body systems