Diabetes affects more than 12 million people and is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. With diabetes primarily affecting the small blood vessels, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been demonstrated to stimulate angiogenesis to help ameliorate compromised blood flow and prevent organ failure. Research has shown that HBOT can lower blood sugar levels by increasing cellular sensitivity to insulin and skeletal muscle reception of glucose. Furthermore, recent reports have provided evidence towards linking HBOT to regenerating pancreatic islets of Langerhans, thus potentially producing more insulin. HBOT is often beneficial in treating osteomyelitis and cellulitis, in addition to preventing systemic toxicity and permanent disability. With chronic diabetes, impaired circulation reduces wound healing capability and promotes ulcerations. HBOT increases the amount of oxygen available to ulcerated areas, leading to increased fibroblast activation.
Studies have demonstrated the benefits of HBOT for diabetes with the following:
Advance Glycemic Control: increases pancreatic islets of Langerhans, improves insulin sensitivity, increases skeletal muscle reception of glucose
Decrease Cardiovascular Risk: promotes long-term blood pressure control, attenuates metabolic syndrome, reduces risk of sudden heart attack due to ventricular arrhythmias
Stimulate Angiogenesis & Reduce Inflammation: improves brain function & reduces risk of stroke, enhances heart function & reduces risk of heart attack, reduces risk of diabetic retinopathy, decreases risk of diabetic neuropathy, minimizes risk of diabetic nephropathy, combats cellulitis
Enhance Internal/External Healing: proliferates epithelialization, promotes closure of non-healing wounds, decreases risk of infection, ameliorates ulcerations, reduces risk of amputation, remediates osteomyelitis
Study: Amputation Rate Decreased with HBOT
A study published in 2008 evaluated the efficacy of HBOT with respect to decreasing amputation rates for patients with diabetic foot ulcer. A total of 184 consecutive patients received an average of 39 HBOT sessions (60 to 120 minutes a day, six times a week with patients’ progress evaluated at 3, 6 & 12 months) as an adjunct to standard treatment modalities for diabetic foot ulcer. Following treatment, 115 (62 percent) were completely healed, 31 (17 percent) showed no improvement and 38 (21 percent) underwent amputation. HBOT’s success was illustrated by the attenuation to hypoxic tissue by the mechanisms of angiogenesis, fibroblast replication, collagen synthesis, revascularization, epithelialization and increased leukocyte bactericidal activity. This study confirmed that HBOT can help to reduce major amputation rates in diabetic foot ulcers by repairing tissue.
This finding is especially noteworthy considering other conventional treatments had failed.
OXYGEN THERAPY SHOWS PROMISE AGAINST A VARIETY OF AILMENTS
By Dr. Patrick Massey for the Daily Herald
A number of years ago, it was believed that doing surgery in large pressure chambers (hyperbaric chambers) would improve outcomes. To that end, some medical centers began to do surgery in hyperbaric chambers.
Hyperbaric chambers were very expensive and the overall results were not positive enough to justify the expense of doing surgery in them. As a result, over the next 30 years, hyperbaric chambers were rarely used.
However, advances in technology have lowered the cost of hyperbaric chambers to the point where physicians and medical centers are using them again.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is done inside a hyperbaric chamber. The patient is exposed to 100 percent oxygen at pressures slightly higher than normal in order to supersaturate the tissues with oxygen. First developed in the early 1900s by Orville Cunningham, hyperbaric therapy was not really used until the 1940s to treat deep-sea divers with decompression sickness. In the 1950s and 1960s, it was used during heart and lung surgery. Later, it was found to be beneficial to treat carbon monoxide poisoning and other medical conditions.
Although hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been the subject of controversy because of the lack of well controlled medical studies, there are a number of medical conditions for which there is substantial evidence that it is effective. These include decompression sickness (scuba diving), moderate to severe carbon monoxide poisoning, prevention and treatment of osteoradionecrosis (radiation therapy-induced bone damage), radiation therapy-induced soft-tissue damage, skin graft healing, enhanced healing after plastic surgery and in the treatment of chronic skin ulcers.
There are a number of other medical conditions for which hyperbaric oxygen might be beneficial but good clinical trials are lacking. Among these are autism, stroke, dementia, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, diabetic skin ulcers and even chronic fatigue syndrome. How hyperbaric oxygen helps decompression sickness and carbon monoxide poisoning is clearly defined. However, for most chronic medical conditions, how it works is less clear. It is believed higher oxygenation of the blood and tissues stimulates the growth of new blood vessels and nerves. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy might also reduce swelling and help acute brain and spinal cord injuries. There is some evidence that it might also help lymphedema, swelling and impairment from damage to the lymph system.
The side effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy are often mild and reversible. The most common side effects are claustrophobia and a readily reversible change in vision clarity. The only absolute reason to avoid hyperbaric therapy is a collapsed lung.
I get this question often. Sometimes it’s hard to explain, but here is an answer that I believe that everyone can understand.
The moderately increased pressure will dramatically increase the amount of oxygen that will be safely delivered to all tissues in the body, even to places that have naturally restricted blood flow (i.e. the body’s white tissues), lower than normal flow or even blockages.
The air that we breathe usually provides enough oxygen for both normal body metabolism and the repair of tissue damage after injury or illness. However, tissue damage or disease also involves the blood vessels within the tissue and this may reduce blood flow. So, just when more oxygen is needed, the supply is reduced and recovery may be limited or even prevented.
By increasing the concentration of oxygen in the blood, more of it can be delivered to damaged tissue to establish normal oxygen values and so allow recovery to take place. Oxygen diffuses under pressure because of the laws of physics in plasma, which supplies all body tissues with oxygen.
In a myriad of documented cases HBOT has produced remarkable and miraculous benefits for a wide variety of serious medical conditions. HBOT has been clinically proven to produce a more efficient immune system, a more rapid regeneration of cells, and is proven to work as a potent anti-aging therapy. Simply stated, significantly increasing the delivery of oxygen to all tissues throughout one’s body results in improved health and vitality. Breathing pressurized oxygen allows every fluid in your body to better absorb the life giving gas.
Once these fluids are “supercharged” with oxygen, there is an increased oxygen supply to all of your body systems and organs. You’ll witness peak wellness, peak energy and peak mental acuity. Healing from virtually every illness and even post-surgery will occur faster and more extensively. You will discover amazing, restful rejuvenating sleep. With continued treatments over a period of time you’ll experience the anti-aging benefits provided by HBOT.
Hyperbaric oxygen is used to treat all conditions which benefit from increased tissue oxygen availability, as well as infections where it can be used for its antibiotic properties, either as the primary therapy, or in conjunction with other drugs. It can also be used cosmetically for anti-aging, acne, and other conditions. HBOT can be used to treat whatever ails you.
Insurance and Medicare consider the following conditions for HBOT to be covered for payment:
Air or Gas Embolism Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Compartment Syndrome/Crush Injury/Other Traumatic Ischemias Decompression Sickness (Bends) Diabetic and Selected Wounds Exceptional Blood Loss (Anemia) Gas Gangrene Intracranial Abscess Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection Osteoradionecrosis and Radiation Tissue Damage Osteomyelitis (Refractory) Skin Grafts and (Compromised) Flaps Thermal Burns
The following conditions are off-label which may or may not be covered by insurance or Medicare:
Autism Cerebral Palsy Lyme Disease Migraine Multiple Sclerosis Near Drowning Recovery from Plastic Surgery Sports Injuries Stroke Traumatic Brain Injury
At Empower Wellness Center, we will go above and beyond to be certain that you get the treatment you need. YOU are why we have done this. This service is for you and your loved ones. If you have questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact us.
There are trainers in the business that have incorrect and basically archaic information regarding weight loss. We know so much more now than we did in the 80s and 90s. The world of fitness and nutrition is a lot like technology in that it’s ever changing. We are always learning new things about the way our bodies respond to exercise and our nutritional challenges, as well as the role hormones play in whether we gain weight or whether we lose weight.
The endocrine system regulates the production of hormones, which are chemicals that control cellular functions. Hormones can affect a number of different cells; however, they only influence the ones with specific receptor sites. Hormones control a number of physiological reactions in the body including energy metabolism, reproductive processes, tissue growth, hydration levels, synthesis and degradation of muscle protein, and mood. Hormones are responsible for both building new muscle and helping to burn fat, so it is important to have an understanding of which ones are released in relation to exercise as well as understanding the physiological functions they influence.
There are three major classifications of hormones: steroid, peptide and amines (modified amino acid hormones). Each class of hormones has a unique chemical structure that determines how it interacts with specific receptors. Steroid hormones interact with receptors in the nucleus of a cell, peptide hormones are comprised of amino acids and work with specific receptors sites on the cell membrane, and amines contain nitrogen and influence the sympathetic nervous system.
Hormones can either be anabolic, which means they help build new tissue, or catabolic because they play a role in breaking tissue down. The term “anabolic steroids” is often mentioned as a method of cheating used by athletes who want to improve performance; however, anabolic steroids are actually natural chemicals produced by the body that are responsible for promoting tissue growth.
Listed below are some important hormones involved in exercise along with the physiological functions they control.
Insulin
A peptide hormone produced by the pancreas, insulin regulates carbohydrate and fat metabolism. When blood sugar is elevated, insulin is released to promote the storage and absorption of glycogen and glucose. Insulin helps reduce levels of glucose in the blood by promoting its absorption from the bloodstream to skeletal muscles or fat tissues. It is important to know that insulin can cause fat to be stored in adipose tissue instead of being used to fuel muscle activity. When exercise starts, the sympathetic nervous system suppresses the release of insulin; consequently, it is important to avoid foods with high levels of sugar (including sports drinks) before exercise because it can elevate insulin levels and promote glycogen storage instead of allowing it to be used to fuel physical activity. Wait until the body has started sweating before using any sports drinks or energy gels.
Glucagon
Released in response to low levels of blood sugar, glucagon is produced by the pancreas to stimulate the release of free fatty acids (FFAs) from adipose tissue and increase blood glucose levels, both of which are important for fueling exercise activity. As glycogen levels are depleted during exercise, glucagon releases additional glycogen stored in the liver.
Cortisol
Cortisol is a catabolic steroid hormone produced by the adrenal gland in response to stress, low blood sugar and exercise. It supports energy metabolism during long periods of exercise by facilitating the breakdown of triglyceride and protein to create the glucose necessary to help fuel exercise. Cortisol is released when the body experiences too much physical stress or is not sufficiently recovered from a previous workout. While cortisol helps promote fat metabolism, exercising for too long can elevate levels of cortisol to catabolize muscle protein for fuel instead of conserving it to be used to repair damaged tissues.
Epinephrine and Norepinephrine
These amine hormones play an important role in helping the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) produce energy and in regulating the body’s function during cardiorespiratory exercise. Classified as catecholamines, epinephrine and norepinephrine are separate but related hormones. Epinephrine, often referred to as adrenaline because it is produced by the adrenal gland, elevates cardiac output, increases blood sugar (to help fuel exercise), promotes the breakdown of glycogen for energy and supports fat metabolism. Norepinephrine performs a number of the same functions as epinephrine, while also constricting blood vessels in parts of the body not involved in exercise.
Testosterone
Testosterone is a steroid hormone produced by the Leydig cells of the testes in males and the ovaries of females, with small amounts produced by the adrenal glands of both genders. Testosterone is responsible for muscle protein resynthesis and the repair of muscle proteins damaged by exercise, and plays a significant role in helping grow skeletal muscle. Testosterone works with specific receptor sights and is produced in response to exercise that damages muscle proteins.
Human Growth Hormone
Human growth hormone (HGH) is an anabolic peptide hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland that stimulates cellular growth. Like all hormones, HGH works with specific receptor sites and can produce a number of responses, including increasing muscle protein synthesis responsible for muscle growth, increasing bone mineralization, supporting immune system function and promoting lipolysis, or fat metabolism. The body produces HGH during the REM cycles of sleep and is stimulated by high-intensity exercise such as heavy strength training, explosive power training or cardiorespiratory exercise at or above the onset of blood lactate (OBLA, the second ventilatory threshold).
Insulin-like Growth Factor
Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) has a similar molecular structure to insulin and is stimulated by the same mechanisms that produce HGH. IGF is a peptide hormone produced in the liver and supports the function of HGH to repair protein damaged during exercise, which makes it an important hormone for promoting muscle growth.
Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotransmitter that helps stimulate the production of new cells in the brain. The production of BDNF is closely related to the production of HGH and IGF—the same exercises that elevate levels of those hormones also increase amounts of BDNF. High-intensity exercise can stimulate anabolic hormones for muscle growth while elevating levels of BDNF, which can help improve cognitive function.
Understanding how exercise influences the hormones that control physiological functions can assist you in developing effective exercise programs specifically for you. Hormones have both short- and long-term responses to exercise. In the acute phase immediately post-exercise, testosterone (T), HGH and IGF are produced to repair damaged tissue. Over the long-term, there is an increase in the receptor sites and binding proteins, which allow T, HGH and IGF to be used more effectively for tissue repair and muscle growth. For those who want muscle growth, the levels of T, HGH and IGF are produced in response to the amount of mechanical stress created during resistance-training exercises. Moderate to heavy loads performed until momentary fatigue generate high levels of mechanical force, which creates more damage to muscle protein, which signals the production of T, HGH and IGF to repair protein, which results in muscle growth.
While there are a myriad of hormones responsible for an almost infinite number of physiological functions, the hormones listed above are directly influenced by physical activity and play important roles in helping the body adapt to the imposed physical demands of exercise. Many fitness professionals like myself understand that the nervous and muscular systems play important roles in determining the outcomes of an exercise program. However, the reality is that hormones influence many of the physiological adaptations to physical activity. That means that, “It’s all hormones nowadays,” is the appropriate response to many questions about how the human body responds to
Today, I want to talk about the importance of protein. How protein benefits your overall health in physical performance is crucial to understand. So whether you’re a weekend warrior, you’re trying to lose weight or you are an athlete, protein is important for everybody — and just about everyone is deficient in quality protein in their diet
I’m going to go over how to get more protein in your diet, the benefits of eating more protein foods and how much you should consume. So starting off here, let’s talk about protein and what it does.
Why Protein Is So Important
Protein is the building block of yourself. It’s the building block of your muscles and also is present in the foods that are going to boost your metabolism and fat-burning potential. Nothing is more important than protein. It really is the fuel that motivates and really supports your body in building healthy tissues and cells.
What exactly are proteins? Proteins are considered long chains of amino acids, which are the important molecules we get from our diet. Amino acids can be found in many different types of foods, even vegetables, but the highest sources are those that come from animals – like meat, dairy, eggs and fish – plus to a lesser extent certain plant foods like beans and seeds.
Proteins are used every day to keep the body going. Because they’re used to develop, grow and maintain just about every part of our bodies — from our skin and hair to our digestive enzymes and immune system antibodies — they’re constantly being broken down and must be replaced.
Vital organs, muscles, tissues and even some hormones of the body are made from proteins. Additionally, proteins create hemoglobin and important antibodies. Proteins are involved in just about every body function from controlling blood sugar levels to healing wounds and fighting off bacteria.
Simply put, without proteins life would not exist.
The average person probably needs half his or her body weight in protein a day. So if you weigh 150 pounds, you need at least around 75 grams of protein a day if you’re trying to burn fat and build muscle the right way. And for many athletes, more than that is going to be essential as well.
Do You Have a Protein Deficiency?
Mayo Clinic researcher Jan van Deursen, Ph.D, set out to study the cause of cancer, but soon his research took him in a different direction — what impacts aging? His research revealed that certain proteins play an important, even critical, role in aging.
In his investigation, van Deursen and his team created genetically modified mice that had a protein deficiency in one specific type of protein, BubR1. They discovered that the mice deficient in this vital protein aged four to five times faster than the control group of normal mice.
This naturally occurring protein declines as we age and, in this study, were found to be at deficient levels in the mice’s muscles, heart, brain, spleen, testis and ovaries. The study theorizes that this holds true in the human body, too, with aprotein deficiency leading to cataracts, heart problems, kyphosis or muscle atrophy — all somewhat common in the elderly.
Eating too little protein can result in these symptoms as well:
A sluggishmetabolism
Trouble losing weight
Trouble building muscle mass
Low energy levels and fatigue
Poor concentration and trouble learning
Moodiness and mood swings
Muscle, bone and joint pain
Blood sugar changes that can lead to diabetes
Slow wound healing
Low immunityThe best forms of protein you can be getting are going to be things like grass-fed beef, organic chicken and turkey, wild-caught salmon — also, grass-fed organic dairy products are great. And then, healthy quality protein powders like grass-fed whey protein is another great option.Some other high protein foods to help overcome a protein deficiency include:
And then for the plant-based sources of protein, flaxseeds and chia seeds are great; other nuts and seeds, and beans, are also quality sources of protein.
The Top Protein Foods
Free-range eggs
Lentils
Natto
Kefir or yogurt
Mushrooms Getting protein in your diet is greatly beneficial, and the biggest benefits of protein include fat burning, helping muscle recovery and helping heal cuts in the wound. And if you have any sort of injury, protein is essential. It’s also essential for:
Protein Health Benefits
Fighting diabetes in balancing up blood sugar
Brain function
Any issue you have in terms of depression and brain issues
CholesterolAnd last but not least, it’s important for muscle recovery. So if you’re trying to recover from an injury and also want to improve your overall energy, getting more protein in your diet is essential.So get more protein in your diet. I’d even recommend keeping a food journal; write down what you’ve eaten the past three days, and then add up the grams of protein you’ve actually gotten in your system.
You also can go to the website nutritiondata.com and actually look up the amount of protein in the amount of food you’ve consumed, or else do it for the next three days and see how much protein you’re actually getting in your diet.
When buying protein, make sure it’s from organic, natural sources. One of the issues we run into today is all of our conventional restaurants, our conventional grocery stores, they’re not selling grass-fed organic protein. And if you’re eating conventional protein, it’s loaded with hormones, antibiotics, steroids and other chemicals that will actually destroy your health.
There is study after study showing that protein is essential for your body.
If you’re looking to up your protein intake, I will be posting a list of 50 snack options that are packed with protein on the Empower Wellness closed group page. If you’re in a program with me or any of our team at Empower Wellness, you should have access to this page; if you do not, simply send a request to join and I will get you added.
Too often in life I find myself apologizing for situations or things that, quite frankly, are out of my control. Why? Because I feel like I have to be at fault for something going wrong because I’m technically the one in charge of my own life.
However, as I go through the growing pains of becoming a “real adult,” I’m realizing that the notion that I’m responsible for everything that comes into my life is absolute, total crap. Sometimes there are things we just shouldn’t apologize for.
So now I’m here to say sorry, but I’m not sorry. Because there are just some things in life I can’t control and neither can you. And that’s perfectly OK to admit.
Below are 12 things you shouldn’t fault yourself for — because the sooner you do, the happier you’ll be.
Your emotions.
So what if you cry a lot, or are too concerned, or get too passionate about something that matters to you? There’s no such thing as “too much” when it comes to feelings. The sooner we learn that, the more emotionally healthy we’ll be.
The way you handle those emotions.
Write out everything you’re thinking in a letter. Slam a door and don’t feel guilty about it. Go for a run and shut off your phone. Do whatever you need to do in order to process what you’re going through — and do it unapologetically. Everyone handles a challenge in their own way.
Another person’s rejection.
It’s not your fault that someone doesn’t like your hair, your stance on politics, or the way you carry yourself. That’s their problem. If you’re behaving in a way that’s most authentic to you, that’s all you can do. The right people — the ones who belong in your life — will accept every part of it.
Little failures.
And big failures. We’re human, mistakes are in our nature. We forgive others for their indiscretions — it’s time to start extending ourselves the same courtesy.
Someone else’s circumstances.
In the iconic romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally, a patron that overheard Meg Ryan’s — shall we say satisfying — lunch famously stated, “I’ll have what she’s having.”As lovely as that sentiment is, that isn’t always possible. Don’t compare your own story to someone else’s story. The personal shame that comes from not having what she or he is having is too much for one soul to manage.
Your needs.
Humans are incredibly complex so our necessities are going to be incredibly different. Don’t blame yourself for needing certain components from a relationship or a career that someone else may not feel is necessary. Don’t apologize for knowing what it takes to make you feel fulfilled.
Your guilty pleasures.
If watching The Bachelorettewith a giant container of Pad Thai is your thing, there’s no shame in that. It’s also perfectly acceptable to enjoy going to happy hour, or dating around, or meditating every night. You like what you like — embrace it, don’t hide it.
Being terrible at something.
Some of us were born with the ability to craft the heck out of an antique coffee table, others burn themselves with a hot glue gun. Life is a series of trials and errors. You have your own unique gifts to offer the world that are different from someone else’s.
Putting yourself before anyone else.
The relationship you have with your own heart, mind and soul is the most important relationship you can have. There’s nothing wrong with being a little selfish when the time calls for it.
Trusting someone you shouldn’t have.
Feeling burned or betrayed by someone can swallow you whole. But their actions are their own and have nothing to do with you. People are flawed. Sometimes those flaws show up in the beginning, sometimes they don’t reveal themselves until years down the line. If we kept walls up every single time we met someone to protect ourselves from getting hurt, we’d live a life of sheer loneliness — and there’s nothing worse than that.
A terminated relationship.
Some people aren’t meant to stay in our lives beyond the lessons they’ve taught us. It’s as simple as that.
Anything that happened in the past.
Ruminating on the past is like waking up every morning and consciously putting on a puka-shell necklace or some other hideous fashion trend that belongs back in an earlier decade. You have the power to make a deliberate choice to live in the now. Any event, negative or otherwise, belongs in the time period which it occurred. The only direction you can move in is forward — and that’s a really beautiful thing.
This is a great piece…..I’d love to take credit for it, but I cannot. I’m not certain as to who wrote it, but they are right on point…….
Growing up, its very challenging to even accept – let alone act upon – the dormant thing inside of you that you know makes you special, different. School is all about fitting in, finding the box that best suits you and conforming to its predispositions.
I was an extremely inquisitive child, philosophical, I liked wearing my heart on my sleeve and I made my thoughts and feelings available to anyone who was interested. Problem was, nobody was really interested. And me being me was a rather uncomfortable fit for my well-meaning family. They were what you might term stiff-upper lipped Brits. I was raised in a do-honoring family, where you didn’t question religion, nor the status quo or institutions; you just got on with it, like a good girl.
As the state of my inner wellbeing was not apparently significant to those around me it became dis-eased. Once I approached my teen years I plummeted head first into a heady and dangerous rebellion. Drugs, underage drinking, reckless sex. Numbing my consciousness about being different seemed to work, for a while at least.
Mine is not an unusual story; in a society where success is about what you’ve done, not about who you really are and what inner happiness you might have generated its easy to see why you might want to step away from your inner calling and adopt the attitude ‘If I can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.’
But thank goodness we have pioneers in all representations of human endeavor who have championed a new, better way, despite the consequences. Too many were ridiculed in their time, even tortured and killed. Yet they held true to themselves, and loyal to what their hearts told them they had come to gift the world with.
The Wright Brothers were seen as crazy in the early twentieth century. Despite having no formal engineering training they made the first airplane flight. And they succeeded in showing the doubting world that yes, people could fly.
Princess Diana (incidentally but not coincidentally who’s name means Heavenly or Divine) ignored the tight collared restrictions, decorum and rigors of royal establishment in many areas; dress, parenting, relations with the media, attitude, what she did, said… her passion was to serve, not to be served. She was ostracized by the royals, but not by the people.
Ed Sheeran shot to fame because he too dared to be different with his fresh, colloquial, relatable lyrics and playful melodies. He shook the music industry by the scruff of the neck, rebelling against the generic, empty- sounding songs churned out by the world of commercial music.
“There’s never been a melody like you before and there will never be again.” Dr. Barbara De Angelis
As both Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith and Dr. Barbara De Angelis say, giving birth to your true self is messy and uncomfortable. If you’ve birthed a child, you’ll recognize the final stages of pregnancy; knowing its Time, knowing that you are ready to offer the world a precious new Being, desperately eager to meet the person inside of you that you have nurtured for so long. Once you have re-birthed yourself – or awakened – you are in for a glorious explosion of feelings. This is what life is all about! This is who I am.
These days I’ve swopped self abuse for self love. I’ve never felt happier, healthier nor more vibrant in my life. And I credit embracing who I am really am with this. Despite family and friends thinking me a bit strange, I am pursuing my innate need to study spirituality and to spread my thoughts and reflections about life to others.
I broke my mold and I can tell you this; it feels liberating. Have you considered that perhaps you were placed in an environment that was not conducive to your inner aspirations because your soul knew you needed some resistance to really ultimately make you push through these limitations? Perhaps you were placed in an unsupportive sphere so it would show you, no, you cannot live your life this way and inspire you to reach deep down and reveal the real you. Many members of my family and friendship circle don’t get or really know me, but that’s ok. They see what I do works for me and that’s enough for them. My happiness – although it looks different to their version – nonetheless inspires them to seek theirs.
“I think everybody’s weird. We should all celebrate our individuality and not be embarrassed or ashamed of it.” Johnny Depp.
If you’re going to make a difference, doesn’t it seem logical that you will have to be different? Follow your flair, pursue your passion. Would you not regret it more if you didn’t?
For most people, this doesn’t happen very often. But we’re now learning that there might be more of a reason for you to start making these types of activities a priority.
A movement known as “grounding” or “earthing” is sweeping the holistic health scene. Walking barefoot outside, with the soles of your feet free to directly connect with the surface of the earth, is the main activity that’s a part of the earthing or grounding practice. While it might sound strange at first — ditching your shoes and digging your toes into the dirt or sand, or strolling across some pesticide-free grass — there’s evidence that this can be greatly beneficial for health by lowering free radical damage (also called “oxidative stress”), stress, inflammation and pain.
How Does Earthing or Grounding Work?
Regularly connecting to the earth’s natural, powerful energy is now known to be healing and vital for all people. This is why “reconnection” — with both the earth itself and our body’s own innate healing abilities — is the focus of earthing. The best part about earthing or grounding is that it’s super simple, completely free and can be done anywhere, at any time. It requires nothing but your bare body and willingness to try something that might seem “a bit out there.”
You might be a bit skeptical about this phenomenon, so let me explain more about the basics of how earthing works:
It is an established, though not widely appreciated fact, that the Earth’s surface possesses a limitless and continuously renewed supply of free or mobile electrons. The Earth’s negative charges can create a stable internal bioelectrical environment for the normal functioning of all body systems which may be important for setting the biological clock, regulating circadian rhythms, and balancing cortisol levels.
Your body is naturally able to absorb electrical charges from the earth since your skin acts like a “conductor.” Your feet, specifically certain points in the balls of your feet, are believed to especially be good at receiving the earth’s electricity.
But because of our modern way of living — for example, always wearing shoes and living most of our lives above ground in our homes or offices that are located several floors up in tall buildings — we’re losing touch with the earth’s natural “electrical” force.
‘The human body is electrical first and chemical second,” according to earthing expert Clint Ober. Our brain, heart beat and neurotransmitter activity, for example, all rely on electrical signals, so when our electricity if off, so can be certain aspects of our health.
The idea is that by being in touch with the planet, the electrical force coming off the earth is able to help lower inflammation and fight free radicals. In fact, the term “earthing” has even earned a patent as a natural method for reducing disease-causing inflammation.
Vitamin G: The Key to Earthing!
Just like our body needs direct exposure to sunlight to produce adequate amounts of the vital nutrient called vitamin D, we also require a certain level of direct exposure with our home planet to produce something that some holistic practitioners call “Vitamin G.”
You might be familiar with vitamin D deficiency and related symptoms, but likely you’re brand new to vitamin G. Being directly in touch with the earth, our body’s own electricity becomes more stable and in line with that of the earth. Think of it this way: You know the relaxing, healing feeling of spending time outdoors in the sun? Well, you can also get a surge of healthy compounds flooding your system by walking in your bare feet on the earth’s soil or sand.
I will talk more about the benefits of barefoot shoes in just a moment, but I also want to say that to reduce stress and energize your system in the biggest way, you should ideally also get outside and go completely “bare,” with no shoes on at all.
Health Benefits of Earthing or Grounding
Up until this point, unfortunately, so much of our current health care model has provided us with very little, if any, research of the importance of the bio-electrical component to our health. But the idea of the earth having an electrical pulse that impacts our body is nothing new. This has been proven and well-understood for many years and is an important aspect of preventing accidents or injuries in fields like radiation, gas, dynamite or surgery.
So much of the information we have about bio-electrical impacts on our health has been done outside of the field of medical science and health-related research. However, even though we only have a few solid studies on the health benefits of bioelectrical impulses, many of us have “experienced” the benefits firsthand. For instance, have you ever experienced a walk on the beach or a stroll in the park letting your bare feet touch the grass or sand and sensed a feeling of peace? I know I have.
The known benefits of earthing have to do with a reduction of free radicals that takes place in our body when it comes into contact with “free electrons,” whether from the earth or foods that have grown from the earth.
According to a 2012 report in the Journal of Environmental Public Health:
Throughout history, humans mostly walked barefoot or with footwear made of animal skins. They slept on the ground or on skins. Through direct contact or through perspiration-moistened animal skins used as footwear or sleeping mats, the ground’s abundant free electrons were able to enter the body, which is electrically conductive. Through this mechanism, every part of the body could equilibrate with the electrical potential of the Earth, thereby stabilizing the electrical environment of all organs, tissues, and cells.
Here is how this process can specifically benefit your health:
Reduces Inflammation
To put it simply, it’s thought that the influx of free electrons from the Earth’s surface help to neutralize free radicals and reduce both acute and chronic inflammation and accelerated aging. Experts on earthing and grounding believe that this practice can help improve circulation, which means you’re better able to distribute nutrients throughout your body and also carry waste and toxins out. In fact, enhanced circulation can have a tremendous effect on the body in many ways — from boosting energy levels to reducing swelling.
According to a report published in Alternate Therapies in Health and Medicine, “Inflammation is now recognized as an overwhelming burden to the healthcare status of our population and the underlying basis of a significant number of diseases. The elderly generally bear the burden of morbidity and mortality, which may be reflective of elevated markers of inflammation resulting from decades of lifestyle choices.”
How does earthing help stop inflammation? Inflammation, which triggers disease for so many people, is largely believed to be caused by a lack of electrons in your tissues. When your body senses that you’re “under attack” or sick, it delivers reactive oxygen species (ROS) to the site of injury, which is another way of saying that it triggers an inflammatory response in an attempt to heal and defend you. When this takes place, some free radicals can leak in to surrounding tissue and damage otherwise healthy parts of your body by increasing swelling, pain, heat and redness.
The reason that we want to eat plenty of high-antioxidant foods is the same reason we want to practice earthing. Antioxidant electrons in your body help ensure that damage from free radicals doesn’t get out of control and lead to high levels of inflammation and faster aging, just like anti-inflammatory foods do. Basically, the free or mobile electrons from the earth can resolve chronic inflammation by serving as natural antioxidants!
The belief about earthing’s benefits is that electrons can be absorbed from the bottom of your feet when they’re touching the ground, and then these can move anywhere in your body where free radicals are forming. The antioxidant electrons help cancel out free radicals and, therefore, halt damage to DNA and other forms of “oxidative stress.”
Helps Reduce Stress Hormones
Chronic stress can kill your quality of life, as you’ve probably experienced first hand. But luckily, time spent in nature can really help reverse certain feelings of stress and anxiety. One double-blind study that investigated the effects of earthing on 58 healthy adults used conductive adhesive patches placed on the sole of each participant’s foot to read their electrical signals. The subjects were exposed to 28 minutes in the unearthed condition followed by 28 minutes with the earthing wire connected. Controls were unearthed for 56 minutes.
After earthing, about half the subjects showed “an abrupt, almost instantaneous change in root mean square (rms) values of electroencephalograms (EEGs) from the left hemisphere of the brain.” These changes are believed to signify positive changes and lower stress reactions.
Nineteen of 22 earthing participants also experienced decreased blood volume pulses (BVP). After considering the effects on electrophysiological properties of the brain and musculature as recorded using EEG, EMG and BVP readings, the findings suggest significantly higher reductions in overall stress levels and tensions results in the earthing participant’s compared to the control group.
Can Help You Sleep Better
A 2007 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine demonstrated that connecting the human body to the earth during sleep (earthing) normalizes the daily cortisol rhythm and improves sleep patterns. This is because of the effects that stress hormones have on your natural circadian rhythm, energy and ability to sleep soundly.
It’s proposed that the earth’s “diurnal electrical rhythms” set the biological clocks for hormones that regulate sleep and activity. We’ve all had the experience of tossing and turning in bed, unable to fall asleep due to racing thoughts. When our bodies are not in line with the natural rhythms of the earth, including the patterns of light and darkness or “electrical” charges, our sleep and immunity suffers. The indoor-lifestyle that many of us lead might be one reason for rising cases of chronic fatigue syndrome.
One 2006 study published in the Journal of European Biology and Bioelectromagnetics observed the patterns of patients’ cortisol levels before and after grounding. They found that their cortisol rises and dips were scattered and somewhat unpredictable in the adults before they practiced earthing. But after earthing, their levels of cortisol were more in line with the natural rhythms of the earth and sun: They had higher cortisol early in the morning when we naturally need more to feel alert and awake, then they had lower cortisol at night time when we need to unwind in order to fall asleep for the night.
Electrically and chemically speaking, poor sleep is often a symptom of high stress hormones like cortisol. By lowering our reaction to stressful events in our lives, we can fall and stay asleep more easily. And sleep is crucial for healing our body on the most basic level – raising our immunity, giving us enough energy for proper digestion, fighting food cravings or weight gain, and supporting a healthy mindset.
Can Help Increase Energy
Many people have found that earthing or grounding can improve their energy or fight low-grade ongoing fatigue. This can be one side effect of getting better sleep but also be due to improvements in hormones and lower levels of inflammation.
For example, many studies point to the fact that higher cortisol levels rob the body of energy. Physiological stress and cortisol have a close relationship: Stress impacts cortisol, and cortisol can further increase stress responses. This cycle can lead to fatigue and sleep problems, even cravings for low-nutrient foods, sugar and excess calories that further lead to low energy levels.
Can Help Lower Pain
Inflammation is a major source of pain, since it increases swelling, stiffness, reduced mobility and malformation. Inflammation in the joints and tissues are the main cause of pain associated with chronic conditions like arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), for example, is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that usually involves pain in multiple joints as well as symptoms like fatigue, fever, weight loss, eye inflammation, anemia and lung inflammation. In someone with RA, the body releases enzymes that attack its own healthy tissue, therefore destroying the linings of joints. By lowering inflammation, its very possible to help combat pain caused by chronic autoimmune disorders, injuries, headaches, menstrual problems and so on.
One 2010 pilot study compared the pain levels of adults who were grounding compared to a control group following intense exercise that caused muscle soreness. The results showed that grounding the body to the earth altered measures of immune system activity and pain. Among the ungrounded men, there was an expected, sharp increase in white blood cells (sign of an inflammatory response) and greater perception of pain after exercise. In comparison, the grounded men had only a slight decrease in white blood cells, indicating less inflammation and experienced shorter recovery times.
How to Start Earthing
There is no such thing as earthing “too much,” and it’s likely that the more we do, the greater benefits we’ll see. At the same time, even short periods of being in contact with the earth directly over the course of the day can help. Some ways to start having more direct contact with the earth can include: walking barefoot to the mailbox, mowing your lawn, gardening without shoes on, barbecuing outdoors barefoot, laying directly on the sand at the beach instead of sitting in a chair, and many more easy, realistic ways. Sounds rough, right?
Several products are now available that can also help us practice earthing or grounding more often, although just being outdoors barefoot is still the optimal (and simplest) way. For example, a type of electrically-charged bed has been created that features silver wires that are connected to the electrical charge of the earth once plugged into an “earthing” port.
These beds basically have conductive systems that transfer the earth’s electrons from the ground into the body. So even when we’re inside, sleeping in an “earthing bed” might be able to help us absorb the effects of the earth’s electricity and normalize our circadian rhythms and sleep patterns. Laying or sleeping in the bed is almost like sleeping outside on the grass, according to Clint Ober.
Other people like to use “earthing mats.” These look similar to small yoga mats and are placed on the floor. They also have a controller and are connected to electrical fields being given off from the earth’s surface. These are an easy way to practice earthing while working at a desk, standing around the bathroom or kitchen, watching TV or talking on the phone. “Earthing bands” also exist, which are placed on the wrists and arms. Some people like to wear these while cooking, working or doing anything else around the house when they can’t be outdoors.
As you follow the secret detox lifestyle (or any ongoing healthy lifestyle), I recommend that you try to get outside while totally barefoot for at least 30 minutes a day. This can truly help you experience faster healing and reduced stress. Of course, it can also help you avoid the all-too-common vitamin D deficiency, too, and maybe also get some exercise.
Not only is this a powerful value to our ability to detox, it’s a resource that everyone has available to them — and it’s a completely free resource! You can’t beat that value.
Mark Wahlberg does not want to change his life. Jimmy Fallon is happy right where he is. And Beyoncé seems like she’s pretty good for now.
But the rest of us? Not so much. There are few among us who wouldn’t want to seriously tweak, if not downright re-imagine, the lives we lead. We’d do just about anything to have more career success, better health, a rockin’ bod, and a brain that’s firing on all cylinders. But taking the huge steps—the intense diet, the career overhaul, the hours in the gym, or just packing up and moving to Vanuatu to become a professional sun worshipper—are a little beyond our daily means.
Fortunately, there are things you can do starting today that cost almost nothing, take 5 minutes or less, and can begin making a dramatic impact on your overall life. Start each morning with these super-quick rituals, and start reaping the rewards.
Mark Your Wakeup Time
Because It: Doubles Your Brain Power
Whether you wake up with an alarm or just naturally, jot down the exact time you woke up. Over the course of a week, average out your up-and-at-em times, then plot your bedtimes accordingly: You want to aim for exactly 7 hours each night. In a recent Spanish study, sleeping less than six hours or more than eight was associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment by 2.6 times in people over the age of 65.
Pour One Cup of Coffee
Because It: Turbocharges Your Sexual Function
A new study from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston found that men who consumed 85-170 milligrams of caffeine a day were 42 percent less likely to report ED than those who did not. A standard cup of Joe has about 95 mg. However, once you exceed two cups, the benefits start to decline; those who drank 171-303 mg daily had slightly less protection.
Step Outside
Because It: Turns Off Your Fat Genes
Recent research published in the journal PLOS ONE found that getting direct sunlight exposure between the hours of 8 a.m. and noon reduced your risk of weight gain regardless of activity level, caloric intake, or even age. Researchers believe that the sunlight synchronizes your metabolism and undercuts your fat-storage genes.
Take an A.M. Fitness Challenge
Because It: Burns Off Stored Fat
Even a short bout of exercise before your morning meal can burn calories far more efficiently than a typical lunch-hour workout. Because you’re exercising in a “fasted” state, your body burns through its energy stores and has to tap body fat to keep you moving. As a result, you set yourself up for increased fat burn throughout the day.
Grab a Handful of Walnuts
Because It: Flattens Your Belly
Snack on them on your way out the door. Richer in omega-3s than salmon, loaded with more polyphenols than red wine, and packing a mighty dose of fiber and protein, these brain-shaped snacks are like Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. They’re the king of the nuts. A study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that people who eat tree nuts have decreased BMIs and waist sizes.
Bonus Tip: Double-Check Your Cereal
Because It: Prevents Energy Slumps
If your morning ritual involves a serving of healthy, hearty oatmeal, do a double take. A serving of Quaker Oats Old Fashioned Oatmeal has 4 grams of fiber, 5 grams of protein and just a single gram of sugar. But their Fruit & Cream flavored oatmeal packs half the fiber and 12 TIMES as much sugar, plus trans fats, which are used to create their “Flavored and Colored Fruit Pieces.” As a general rule, a truly healthy breakfast cereal should have less than 8 grams of sugar. Wheat Chex, Kellogg’s All Bran, Multigrain Cheerios and Kashi Autumn Wheat all make the grade. Better yet, have a smoothie with some berries, kale, chia seeds, and coconut water.
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