We looked at the mental health benefits of an oceanside getaway last week, but what other benefits does the beach offer? This week we\’re diving into how the beach can improve your physical health too.
I have a friend who used to drive to the Oregon Coast from Portland several times a month for work. She would always tell me that it wasn\’t worth the trip if she didn’t get to feel the sand between her toes. So the question is, why does that feel so good? I’m so glad you asked!
A well-known but often forgotten health benefit happens when we engage with nature barefoot. It’s an Environment Medicine practice called “grounding” or “earthing.” This therapeutic technique emphasizes the health benefits of connecting yourself back to nature and gaining energy from the earth’s core. Environmental Medicine enthusiasts believe that chronic illness, increased inflammation, and sleep disorders have all increased due to our disconnection from the earth’s vast supply of electrons that are designed to “ground” us. “Research supports the idea that these electrons can cause changes in your body, like reduced pain and better sleep.”
The verdict is in folks. It’s time to book your next beach getaway so that you and your loved ones can spend some time digging your toes in the sand, walking barefoot on the beach, and engaging in nature’s healing medicine.