Electric nutrition. Electric nutrition is all about mind-body-Earth connection.

Best known as biological grounding or earthing, “electric nutrition” feeds your body- not with regular foods, but with energy from the ground, from Earth. 

  • Throughout history, our ancestors mostly walked barefoot or with shoes made of animal skins. They often slept on the ground. However, since the 1960s plastic became increasingly popular, and the leather soles of the shoes got replaced with rubber or plastic. We also live far from the ground in high rise buildings. 

  • We are disconnected from the electrical nutrition offered by Earth- and this could be a major reason why we have more chronic health problems than ever. This disconnection seems to make us more vulnerable to pain, stress, inflammation, unhealthy sleep, low energy, and even mood issues and premature aging. 

  • This article is about the benefits of electric nutrition (or earthing), including research studies (there are over a dozen studies published in peer-reviewed journals)- and solutions to restore a healthy connection with Earth’s energy. 

  • You can think about Earth as a huge battery that is electrically charged. Your cells are also electrically charged and transmit electric energy-for example heart, muscles, and brain generates electrical impulses. Grounding researcher Clint Ober suggests that the human body is first and foremost electrical in nature, and chemical second. Feet appear to be particularly good at receiving the energy from Earth, while skin works as a “conductor.”

 

Benefits of Earthing #1 Stress Relief, Better Sleep, Less Pain 

  • There are two studies worth mentioning here. According to one study, participants who used earthing felt better sleep (improved time to fall asleep, feeling more rested in the morning and better quality of sleep), experienced less back or joint pain, less muscle stiffness, and an improvement in general well-being.

  • In addition to better sleep, another study found that grounding was also associated with lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. 

  • Earthing improves heart variability, which is an important marker of your health. Heart variability tells you how quickly your heart makes small changes between each heartbeat and Harvard scientists believe that monitoring your heart variability is a new, reliable way to track your well-being. For example, higher heart variability means a healthier heart, is more resilient to stress while low heart variability is linked with heart attacks and strokes, and increased risk for diabetes, inflammation, obesity, and psychiatric disorders. 

  • Earthing helps you switch from “fight or flight” mode (sympathetic dominance) to “rest and digest “ (parasympathetic) activation.  These sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are parts of the autonomic nervous system, which regulate heart rate (and heart variability) blood pressure, breathing and digestion. [R] [R], [R]

Benefits of Earthing #2: Reduces Inflammation And Modulates The Immune Response

Scientists believe that the anti-inflammatory effects of “electric nutrition” or earthing are due to re-connecting the body and Earth which allows free electrons from the Earth’s surface to spread throughout the body and have antioxidant effects by fighting free radicals. Decreasing inflammation in the body leads to many other positive effects, as most chronic conditions are linked with/ and aggravated by inflammation in the body. The aging process itself is strongly linked with inflammation (now called “Inflamm-aging”)

Research also indicates that earthing promotes faster would healing and a healthier immune response. A healthy immune response means a lower risk of infections or autoimmune conditions. Earthing could potentially improve leaky gut (increased intestinal permeability), too, but we need more research on these benefits. 

Benefits of Earthing #3: Improves Circulation, Lymphatic System, Skin Health, and Digestion

A 2015 study using infrared technology found that earthing boosts circulation, the lymphatic system digestion. I wrote about the benefits of healthy lymphatics on detoxifying the body and fighting microbes and cancerous cells, and its roles in digestion here. Another study found that earthing helps improve the blood flow to the skin, thus having potential rejuvenating, anti-aging qualities. [R]

 

More Health Benefits of Electric Nutrition & Cautions. 

  • Earthing has some potential to improve thyroid function in those with hypothyroidism Based on Ober’s observations, people on hypothyroid medications may display symptoms of hyperthyroidism (ie heart palpitations) after starting to use earthing. He also noted that these symptoms usually subside once the dosage of meds is adjusted (reduced) under medical supervision.  [R] Note: if you have hyperthyroidism you should seek medical advice before using earthing for a long time (ie overnight devices)

  • Earthing may have blood thinner qualities in individuals who are prone to blood clots (have increased blood viscosity). Note: if you take blood thinner medication such as warfarin you should work with your doctor and see if your dosages need to be adjusted when using earthing devices.

  • Earthing works and has an excellent safety profile, being tested in babies, too- showing less inflammation and better response to stress in infants. [R] 

  • Earthing may benefits pets, too [R]. Well, they still have more connection with the ground, unless they live in high rise condos.

 

Benefits of Earthing Summary 

  • Earthing provides significant physiological or clinical benefits that can help manage chronic and inflammatory diseases. [R]. Earthing also was found to Improved sleep, reduced pain and inflammation (particularly helpful to manage low back pain), lower levels of stress hormones, more energy, and improvements in gastrointestinal symptoms [R], [R]

  • NASA’s scientists are currently evaluating what happens with the astronauts when they spend time off the ground, in space. They suggest that astronauts are more likely to have reduced gut microbiome and therefore more prone to infections. [R]

How To Incorporate Earthing In Your Life

  1. Walk barefoot on the ground for 15-20 minutes every day (as weather permits). and use grounding mats or bed sheets during the night. Note: some people may be more sensitive to grounding and incorporate it gradually in their life 

  2. Do you travel by plane? Make sure you walk barefoot (or grounding device) right after you land — for about 15-20 minutes

  3. Use earthing devices: earthing mats (this is what I use), earthing shoes, earthing bed, earthing bracelets, earthing bedsheets, etc. Grounding (earthing) devices connected to conductive systems that transfer the Earth’s electrons from the ground into the body.

  4. Ober suggests that earthing bedsheets (bottom fitted sheets) are a great choice during the night and body bands during the day. [R], [R]