‘Grounding’ proponents say it helps us realign with the Earth’s electric charge – but the claims don’t land | Antiviral

Google searches for grounding’ have risen in the past year , as wellness influencers and podcasters have waxed lyrical about its supposed benefits.

Grounding takes its name from a legitimate concept in electricity.

The surface of the Earth is slightly negatively charged, so the claim goes, allowing electrons (also negatively charged) to flow into your body.

The ostensible benefits include improved sleep, metabolism and blood circulation.

People living in leafier city neighbourhoods are at lower risk of conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Green spaces “provide attractive settings to keep physically active, solo or with others, and opportunities for solace and respite,” says Prof Thomas Astell-Burt at the University of Wollongong .