Many experts argue that walking barefoot helps strengthen the health of the body and mind. Contact between humans and the Earth in ancient times was called "earthing." When the body lacks electrons, it tries to obtain them from another source. Despite the limited number of studies on earthing, some health specialists suggest that it may provide benefits similar to practices in alternative medicine by helping people feel a deeper connection to nature. Research shows that physical contact with the Earth can enhance mood, regulate cortisol (stress hormone), relieve tension in muscles, and improve overall well-being.
"Many experts believe that walking barefoot can have unexpected benefits for health," says Dr. Robert Connell, an orthopedist. He notes that the main benefit lies in strengthening the foot muscles, which tend to weaken with age and due to constant footwear. Weak foot muscles can negatively affect overall mobility and metabolism, leading to a number of ailments. Dr. Connell also points out that footwear can interfere with natural movement.
A study published in the journal "Nature" in 2021 showed that participants who spent less time in shoes increased their foot strength by 57.4% over six months, improving their balance and reducing the risk of falling. Walking barefoot can also help restore our natural walking patterns. Rhianna Harris, a foot health specialist in London, says, "Our feet are extremely strong and flexible and can handle the pressure we put on them, but we don’t utilize them as nature intended."
According to Chinese medicine, grounding is a fundamental stimulation of energy flow in the body. Some researchers claim that many health problems today are linked to insufficient connection with the Earth, as footwear interferes with the transfer of essential electrons within and outside our bodies. As Dr. Gaitan Shivali, director of the US Institute of Medicine, states, "We resemble overcharged batteries. We have 33 compounds in our feet that move through three different layers."
