Imagine that for most of human history, our ancestors walked barefoot, slept on the ground, and worked in direct contact with the Earth. Imagine also that our ancestors had incredibly low rates of body aches and pains, didn't know what arthritis was, had zero anxiety, low cortisol and insomnia was a foreign concept.

Today, we’re insulated from the ground by plastic shoes, high-rise floors, and constant exposure to electronics. And while that might feel like “progress,” it means we’ve lost touch with one of nature’s simplest healing practices: grounding. And we're directly feeling the pain. 

Also called “earthing,” grounding is about restoring your body’s natural electrical connection to the Earth. Clint Ober and co-authors of the book Earthing make the case that reconnecting to the Earth’s energy can reduce inflammation, improve sleep, ease pain, and balance our nervous system. And I have to say, in my personal experience, grounding legitimately works to relieve pain. 

But how does it work? And is it really as simple as slipping off your shoes and walking barefoot?

How Grounding Works

The Earth isn’t just dirt and rock beneath us — it’s a giant magnet, humming with a constant supply of free electrons. These negatively charged particles are nature’s built-in antioxidants, designed to restore balance in our bodies.

Your own blood cells also carry a negative charge, which allows them to repel one another and flow freely. But when we’re cut off from the Earth, stress, processed foods, and constant EMF exposure can interfere with that charge. The result? Stickier blood, more inflammation, and sluggish circulation.

Grounding restores that connection. When your skin touches the Earth — grass, sand, soil, even unsealed concrete — electrons flow into your body. Think of it as plugging yourself into nature’s electrical circuit. These electrons help neutralize excess positive charge (inflammation), support smoother blood flow, and calm your nervous system. Some studies even show measurable drops in body voltage when people are grounded — proof that the Earth literally resets your electrical state.

It’s not woo. It’s physics. This became a really important thing for me when I received a diagnosis of arthritis in both of my knees and my right hip this past summer. Consistent, daily grounding has significantly reduced my joint pain and body aches, and I've seen first hand the benefits of grounding. Which is why I'm telling you about it now.

The Benefits of Grounding

• Reduced inflammation: By donating free electrons, grounding helps neutralize oxidative stress and calm chronic inflammation.
• Better sleep: Grounding at night has been shown to reset cortisol rhythms, helping you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
• Pain relief: Many people report reduced joint pain and stiffness after consistent grounding. This has absolutely been the case with me, and if you report less pain when you're on vacation at the beach, this is the reason why.
• Improved mood: Grounding appears to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, shifting you out of fight-or-flight and into rest-and-digest.
• Cardiovascular health: By thinning the blood and improving circulation, grounding may help lower blood pressure and protect against clotting.

Grounding Products & EMFs

In an ideal world, we’d spend hours a day barefoot in nature. But modern life doesn’t make that easy. Who can actually go barefoot outside? My neighbors are convinced I'm crazy, but I try anyway: I rake leaves barefoot, or do yoga in my backyard without shoes on, specifically because I want to ground. But still, it's an effort. That’s where grounding products come in: things like grounding mats, desk pads, or even bed sheets made with conductive fibers that plug into your home’s electrical wiring and carry a grounding charge to your body.

These products allow you to “bring the Earth inside” — and this is especially useful if you live in a city, cold climate, or spend most of your day indoors. I've been exploring some grounding products from earthing.com and I'm really struck by the difference I feel in my body. I have a grounding mat under my desk at work to absorb grounding benefits while I'm working. I also have a mattress pad that goes under my top-sheet, so I fall asleep and get grounding benefits while sleeping (I wake up with NO joint pain!). And my favorite is their grounding throw, a soft cotton blanket that I wrap myself in and enjoy while reading or sifting through hours of IG content (we all know how that goes). 

Which leads me to this important question: what about EMFs? If you’re lying on a grounded bedsheet while surrounded by WiFi, 5G, and smart devices, are you pulling that radiation into your body?

Here’s the nuance: properly made grounding products connect only to the ground port (the round hole on an outlet), not to live electrical current. This means they dissipate charge rather than conducting household electricity. In fact, studies show grounding can help buffer the body against EMF stress by keeping your body’s voltage closer to the Earth’s baseline. That said, quality matters — cheap products without proper resistors or safety features could pose risks. If you try grounding products, invest in a trusted brand and combine with smart EMF hygiene (unplugging WiFi at night, limiting device use near the body).

 Right now, earthing.com is running their Black Friday Cyber Monday sale, and all of their products are 50% off. You don't need a special code. I will tell you, these products never go on sale - so if you're interested, I wouldn't sleep on this! If I had to get 1 product, it would be their cozy throw, which you can use as a blanket to keep warm; it can also double as a mattress pad, under a top sheet. Each product comes with a safety adaptor and an outlet checker, to make sure you're conducting properly.

🌿 How to Practice Grounding

If you want to try the natural route, it's a bit more of an effort given that we're headed into winter, but here are some tips that I do to keep grounded:

• Barefoot walking: Grass, soil, sand, or even concrete (not asphalt). Aim for 20–40 minutes a day. I find that soft surfaces like grass and sand are easiest, just make sure your lawn isn't sprayed with pesticides or chemicals. 

• Sit or lay on the ground: While meditating, reading, or stretching. Weather permitting, I try to habit stack by sitting in the sunshine (vitamin D!) and eating my lunch or doing some gentle yoga. Warning: your neighbors will think you're weird. That's okay.

• Gardening with bare hands: You get both grounding and sunlight exposure, again. Plus whatever fruits of your labor! 

• Water grounding: Wading in lakes, oceans, or rivers (water is an excellent conductor).

• Grounding mats/sheets: For indoor practice (look for verified conductive materials).

The Bottom Line

Grounding is one of the most accessible, low-cost ways to restore balance to our bodies. It literally is that simple. By reconnecting with the Earth’s magnetic field, you can calm inflammation, support circulation, and invite more rest and resilience into your life.

While grounding products can be a helpful tool for modern living, nothing replaces the simple magic of bare feet on the Earth. So take off your shoes, step outside, and let your body recharge the way nature intended.

Let's do this, lovelies; let's age well naturally.  💪🌿

x
Juliana

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