Ever wonder why you feel better around moving water? When you walk on the beach, by a waterfall or river, or after it rains, there are tens of thousands of negative ions in the air. Ions are molecules that have a positive or negative charge and the human body is made up of both types of ions.
Overexposure to positive ions (also called free radicals) creates an electrical imbalance in our bodies and the air we breathe. Positive ions can come from computers, mobile phones, televisions, air conditioning and heating units, cigarette smoke, smog, and toxins. These ions can make us feel tired, stressed, and may even add to your insomnia. Buildings are now built more air-tight so when the air conditioning or heater runs, they deplete the negative ions in the air. Many homes or office buildings may contain zero to a few hundred of these precious negative ions.
Negative ions produce serotonin, a happy chemical, which makes you feel more energized, less stressed, or depressed.
“Negative ions increase the flow of oxygen to the brain; resulting in higher alertness, decreased drowsiness, and more mental energy,” says Pierce J. Howard, PhD, author of The Owners Manual for the Brain: Everyday Applications from Mind Brain Research and director of research at the Center for Applied Cognitive Sciences in Charlotte, N.C. “They also may protect against germs in the air, resulting in decreased irritation due to inhaling various particles that make you sneeze, cough, or have a throat irritation.” – WebMD
“And for a whopping one in three of us who are sensitive to their effects, negative ions can make us feel like we are walking on air. You are one of them if you feel instantly refreshed the moment you open a window and breathe in fresh, humid air. “You may be one of them if you feel sleepy when you are around an air-conditioner, but feel immediately refreshed and invigorated when you step outside or roll down the car window,” Howard tells WebMD.
How do I get more negative ions around me? You receive negative ions every time you shower. You can open a window in every room of the house every day for a few minutes to increase the fresh negative ions in the air, especially during or after it rains. The fresh air will help to circulate the stagnant air in your air-tight house and let toxic air escape. For me, breathing fresh air helps to wake me up in the morning and energize me for the day. And when you have the opportunity, walk in nature by water or after it rains. It really does rejuvenate you. What have you got to lose? A few positive ions!
