The secret to staying healthy and young: Grounding

by TangPaul June 13, 2025

What is grounding? What are the benefits of grounding?

In recent years, a strange phenomenon has emerged. They often see some people walking barefoot on the road without shoes.

Students walking barefoot on campus.

No shoes at work▼

Going to the supermarket without shoes, barefoot▼

No shoes in the office▼

Why do so many people dislike wearing shoes? Are there any magical effects of walking barefoot? Today I will lead you to learn about this latest health care method.
This behavior of not wearing shoes is called "grounding", which has been confirmed by many studies to relieve fatigue, improve energy, relieve stress, reduce inflammation, improve sleep, neutralize free radicals, and resist aging.

What is Grounding?

As the name implies, grounding means direct contact with the earth. Most people's shoes are insulated and do not have direct contact with the earth.

We know that the energy of the sun is good for the body. In fact, the energy of the earth also has energy and is very beneficial to health.

When we are in direct contact with the ground, the body will receive a stream of "energy", which has an important impact on sleep, physical and mental state, and autoimmune function.

Since ancient times, humans have walked barefoot, worked in the fields, and had close contact with the land, and naturally received the energy of the land.

But now, most people live indoors. We live upstairs and sleep in beds. Plastics, synthetic fibers, asphalt, tar, and vinyl prevent us from direct contact with the ground.

Even if we really go outdoors, shoes and asphalt roads will prevent us from connecting with the ground. Heaven, earth, and man are originally one.

Forced isolation from the ground and lack of direct contact with the ground are likely the reasons why we suffer from some modern diseases.

In fact, it is very simple to change the current situation. Just take off your shoes, walk outside, return to nature, absorb the energy of the earth, and you can experience the magical healing power of "grounding"!

Excessive free radicals are the source of all diseases

In the previous article, we said that free radicals cause aging, but how are free radicals formed?

In the process of human metabolism, in order to obtain energy, mitochondria need to obtain oxygen from the air they breathe and glucose and fat from the food they eat.

These two processes - breathing and eating, will produce "reactive oxygen species" (ROS), also known as "free radicals".

Many friends know that a low-carb diet can reduce free radicals and improve mitochondrial function.

In fact, in addition to the metabolic process, there are many factors in the living environment of modern people that can produce free radicals, such as ultraviolet rays, pollution, stress, malnutrition, and smoking.

A moderate amount of free radicals is good for the body because it can eliminate bacteria and viruses in the body, but an excessive amount is not a good thing because free radicals are highly oxidizing and have a strong ability to absorb electrons.

It is like a very destructive bachelor, very active in snatching electrons from other molecules on the cell membrane to pair itself, this process is "oxidation".

(Oxidized apple)

However, when a free radical grabs an electron from the cell membrane, another new free radical is generated and a chain reaction begins.

This chain reaction of competing for electrons will erode the cell membrane, leading to the loss of cell integrity and becoming the source of various diseases and physical aging. Therefore, free radicals are also called the source of aging and the source of all diseases.

In short, free radicals cannot be excessive, but the social environment in which modern people live causes the free radicals in our bodies to often exceed the standard.

Grounding Neutralizes Free Radicals

We know that free radicals can cause a lot of damage, so how can we reduce them?

First, reduce the formation of free radicals from the source

For example, reduce sun exposure, relieve stress, don’t smoke, don’t stay up late, exercise, try a low-carb diet, intermittent fasting, and follow a truly healthy diet and lifestyle.

Second, use antioxidants to neutralize free radicals

Vitamins A, C and E, as well as plants rich in "polyphenols" (tea, coffee, cocoa, etc.) are all different types of antioxidants, and fruits and olive oil are also rich in antioxidants.

Third, do not wear shoes and connect to the ground

The earth is the most primitive and ultimate green energy source. It has an inexhaustible supply of negative ions, which are the strongest antioxidants.

As we all know, the human body is a conductor and is generally positively charged. People living on the first floor have less charge. The higher the floor, the more positive charge they may have. Also, the more electrical equipment around you are powered on, which may affect your body voltage.

Electrostatically seen, if 2 conductive objects with different electrical potential, human (+) and earth (-) in this case, are in connection, their charge as good as instantaneously comes into balance. In this natural harmony, our constantly accumulated free radicals are neutralized, the aging process is inhibited, we feel back as fit as a fiddle and our recuperation capability (immune system) works again in optimal condition. The body restores itself very quickly.

The earth is negatively charged. When the human body comes into contact with the earth, the voltage will instantly neutralize the voltage of the earth, and at the same time, it will also neutralize the free radicals accumulated over a long period of time.

When the voltage is low, it may also help sleep.

Therefore, the negative ions in the earth can not only neutralize excess free radicals, but also improve sleep.

What are the benefits of grounding?

We see that many children don’t like to wear socks and like to go barefoot; but when we go to the beach, we always walk barefoot on the beach on purpose, and after a while we feel relaxed physically and mentally, and all fatigue disappears.

Behind these seemingly random behaviors, there are actually some wonderful functions of grounding. In fact, dozens of studies have shown that:

Grounding can reduce blood viscosity, improve heart rate variability, help balance the autonomic nervous system, and reduce inflammation and cortisol levels.

→ Grounding improves sleep and relieves insomnia

We talked about the principle above, and there are some related studies.

In a double-blind experiment, 60 subjects (22 men and 28 women) who suffered from sleep disorders, chronic muscle and joint pain, and at least six months. ①

The researchers divided them into two groups and asked them to sleep on conductive carbon fiber mattresses. The difference was:

Half of the mats were connected to the ground outside the bedroom window, which was real grounding

The other half was "fake" grounding

After one month, the subjects who slept on the grounded mats reported improvements in insomnia, while the control group did not.

Some subjects reported significant relieffrom asthmatic and respiratory conditions, rheumatoid arthritis, PMS, sleepapnea, and hypertension while sleeping grounded.

Some grounding subjects also reported that in addition to insomnia, their asthma and respiratory diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, premenstrual syndrome, sleep apnea and high blood pressure were significantly relieved.

→ Grounding can relieve stress

Scientists have found that during the grounding process, the level of stress hormone cortisol in the human body is significantly reduced. Reduced cortisol helps control blood sugar levels, regulate metabolism, reduce inflammation, and improve memory.

In an experiment, 12 participants received grounding treatment. The figure below shows the changes in their cortisol levels after 8 weeks of grounding: The level of stress hormone cortisol was significantly reduced. ②

(After eight weeks of grounding, the subjects' cortisol levels were significantly reduced)

In addition to being less stressed, participants also said they fell asleep faster, woke up less often during the night, and had more energy and vitality in the mornings and during the day.

→ Grounding can maintain a healthy nervous system

As we said before, the vagus nerve is the largest nerve in the autonomic nervous system, extending from the brain to the colon, and plays a key role in heart, lung, and digestive function.

Strong vagal tone can help relieve stress and relax faster, while weak vagal tone is associated with chronic inflammation. 80% of modern diseases come from inflammation, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.

Vagal tone is usually assessed by measuring changes in heart rate during inhalation and exhalation. In one study, grounding improved heart rate and thus vagal tone in premature babies. ③

In another study of adults, 2 hours of grounding reduced inflammation and blood viscosity in subjects, which are risk factors for heart disease. ④

→ Grounding can improve inflammation and reduce body pain

The following picture shows a thermal image of a 44-year-old woman who often feels stiffness and pain in her limbs.

In the picture, the "hot" areas are so-called inflammatory areas. The first picture was taken before grounding, and the second was taken 30 minutes after grounding.

After four consecutive nights of "grounding sleep", her inflammation areas were drastically reduced, and:

Pain was reduced by 30%

Pain that interfered with sleep was reduced by 70%

Morning limb stiffness and pain were reduced by 70%

After eight weeks, it was shown that the pain was completely gone. Grounding sleep is really magical.

How to get grounded and how to do it?

There are many ways to help with grounding. It is reported that in Japan, they recommend that children's shoes do not have rubber soles because rubber or plastic do not conduct electricity, and wearing such shoes will be insulated from the earth.

(Grounding Doudou leather shoes)

Here are some ways to help you feel more grounded:

1. Walk, sit or lie barefoot on the land, beach or mud frequently. The best effect is on wetlands such as beaches (wetlands are more conductive).

2. Sit on the ground or chair and let your feet touch the ground directly. If you are concerned about safety and hygiene, you can also put a blanket or towel on the ground and put your feet on it.

3. Swim in the ocean, lake or other natural waters.

4. Sit under a tree and lean against the tree trunk.

5. Use indoor grounding equipment (grounding sheets, grounding mattresses, grounding mats, grounding shoes) and connect them to the grounding plug at home.

6. If you still have a childlike heart, you might as well play with soil and sand like a child and get in touch with the earth more.

In short, find ways to get in touch with the earth more often. You can also use copper wire to connect the mattress to the ground when you sleep at night.