Get Grounded - Live Longer

GeeMack · 15th November 2009, 10:13 AM

Someone recently put a link to this advertisement on a blog I read...

How Does Grounding Our Body Have A Profound And Positive Effect On Our Health?

And here's a video where the author (the guy who makes the money by selling the Longevity Program^TM) explains everything, well, everything except details, the actual research he says supports his claim, and of course, how much money he makes selling the program...

Barefoot Technology Exposed

I'm not a medical scientist, nor am I an electrical engineer, but I have been around the block a couple times, and I understand a thing or two about electricity. I also know a bit about the ins and outs of marketing snake oil. Has anyone else heard or read anything about this? Seems pretty bogus to me.

bokonon · 15th November 2009, 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by GeeMack

I'm not a medical scientist, nor am I an electrical engineer, but I have been around the block a couple times, and I understand a thing or two about electricity. I also know a bit about the ins and outs of marketing snake oil. Has anyone else heard or read anything about this? Seems pretty bogus to me.

Seems bogus to me too, but I don't see how he's going to monetize advice to touch a tree every day, or wriggle your toes in the dirt.

I heard some guy on NPR talking about how it was healthier to run barefoot than with running shoes, but that wasn't because of ions causing free radical damage and aging you faster. His claim was that the feedback you get through your feet helped you run in a way that would better avoid injury. Again, unless he's selling "The Emperor's New Running Shoes," I don't see the harm in the advice, even if it may not be true.

GeeMack · 15th November 2009, 03:43 PM

Originally Posted by bokonon

Seems bogus to me too, but I don't see how he's going to monetize advice to touch a tree every day, or wriggle your toes in the dirt.

That part of the advice is free, but the LongevityNOW Program including 5 DVDs and the book, starts at $97. It shows you how to avoid hair loss, lose weight, have more energy, live longer, and a host of other appealing life and health advantages.

Too good to be true? Add To Cart >>

Brian-M · 16th November 2009, 03:28 AM

Looking at the site, it seems fairly woo to me.

Quote:

Probably the majority of us are not aware that the earth is mobilized with free electrons, they are what we call free anti-oxidant electrons, as research has now discovered.

I wonder if there is ANY research to suggest that being slightly negatively charged impairs the action of free radicals in the body?

Quote:

Those electrons are attracted into our body at the speed of light, the minute we touch the ground barefoot.

When we're positively charged, those electrons are attracted to our body at the speed of light all the time no matter where we are in the universe. I don't see how touching the ground barefoot comes into it. (If what they really mean is being barefoot on the dirt this allows the electrons to flow into the body, then why are they bringing up the speed of light?)

Quote:

This discovery was actually noticed during the telegraph days when they were first putting telegraph wires into the earth. They found out that the earth was entirely covered by electrons that were negatively charged and that prevented oxidation in our bodies.

Yeah everybody knows that 19th century telegraph wire technicians were actually biochemists with an advanced understanding of sub-cellular oxidizing agents.

Quote:

A team of scientists and a group of doctors have been studying every biological marker known to man, including the most significant ones in medicine today - for example, cortisol levels, bilirubin levels, heart rate levels, heart rate variability, respiration levels, and white blood cell levels etcetera - and determining if there is a difference between being grounded (meaning either standing directly on the earth barefoot or touching the earth somewhere with our bare skin) and not being grounded (meaning wearing rubber soled shoes, or being on carpet or linoleum). The answer is a resounding “yes”. There is a HUGE difference in ALL of our body’s biological markers between being grounded and being ungrounded.

This is complete ********. Even if they were right about the earth having a negative electric charge that somehow affects your health, then it wouldn't matter whether or not you are grounded, only what your electrostatic charge is, and not being grounded doesn't automatically change that. Hell, being non-grounded could also result you having an even more negative charge than the earth, which according to their theory, would be even better for you.

Quote:

When you touch a tree, you are grounded, because the tree is a living wood, (not a dry, dead wood like the floors in your house), it has electrolytes and water in it and therefore it is conducting electricity and yes, it can ground you. If you touch a metal pole that is stuck in the earth, you are also grounded.

Even a live tree is a pretty poor conductor of electricity, as is dry earth, but the copper plumbing in your home is a very good conductor, and is also grounded.

So why don't they suggest you ground yourself through your plumbing, such as by washing your hands after using the toilet, having a shower or washing the dishes?

Why don't they suggest that you ground yourself by touching grounded electrical appliance, like computers, toasters and washing machines?

Why don't they just suggest buying an ionizer to give the air inside your house a negative charge?

Speedskater · 16th November 2009, 07:36 AM

While Mother Earth has just about 0 Ohm resistance from any point to any point (if looked at, at a large enough scale) it is difficult to get a ground rod with less than 25 Ohm resistance to Mother Earth. US Electric Code requires 2 or more ground rods if the ground resistance measurement is not less than this 25 Ohms. This measurement requires rather sophisticated equipment, so most electricians just drive a second ground rod.

So if a ground rod has a difficult time connecting with Mother Earth, I don't think that hugging a tree will have much effect.

GreyICE · 16th November 2009, 09:04 AM

I can't see anything wrong with this. Obviously negative emotions cause negative ions (the logical connection is undeniable) which have to be dissipated or the emotions will linger. The best way to dissipate a negative charge is by grounding (because if you put it in contact with a positive charge it'll explode, like antimatter). So you should definitely stick your toes in dirt regularly.

My problem kicks in when I have to pay $97 to learn how to get my feet wet.

Freethinker · 16th November 2009, 09:40 AM

Assuming we are talking about earth ground, or just earth as it is known in many parts of the world, it is an unspecified, essentially random voltage. It may be thousands of volts higher at some point than it is at another point, or thousands of volts higher or lower at some time than it was at another. The most likely health impact of grounding (or earthing) oneself is to increase ones risk of death in the event of electrical shock.

LarianLeQuella · 16th November 2009, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by bokonon

I heard some guy on NPR talking about how it was healthier to run barefoot than with running shoes, but that wasn't because of ions causing free radical damage and aging you faster. His claim was that the feedback you get through your feet helped you run in a way that would better avoid injury. Again, unless he's selling "The Emperor's New Running Shoes," I don't see the harm in the advice, even if it may not be true.

He was on The Daily Show a while back. Basically his argument is that all the shoe industry is bilking us with all the additional padding that can throw off our natural gait/stride. It's in this book: http://www.amazon.com/Born-Run-Hidde.../dp/0307266303

Not sure exactly what to take from it. Not a big runner myself, so it has very little actual applicability to me.

As for the grounding... Totaly psychobable woo. Has all the hallmarks.

15th November 2009, 10:13 AM	#1
GeeMack Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Not Bandiagara Posts: 1,555	Get Grounded - Live Longer Someone recently put a link to this advertisement on a blog I read... How Does Grounding Our Body Have A Profound And Positive Effect On Our Health? And here's a video where the author (the guy who makes the money by selling the Longevity Program^TM) explains everything, well, everything except details, the actual research he says supports his claim, and of course, how much money he makes selling the program... Barefoot Technology Exposed I'm not a medical scientist, nor am I an electrical engineer, but I have been around the block a couple times, and I understand a thing or two about electricity. I also know a bit about the ins and outs of marketing snake oil. Has anyone else heard or read anything about this? Seems pretty bogus to me.

15th November 2009, 02:03 PM	#2
bokonon Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 3,224	Originally Posted by GeeMack I'm not a medical scientist, nor am I an electrical engineer, but I have been around the block a couple times, and I understand a thing or two about electricity. I also know a bit about the ins and outs of marketing snake oil. Has anyone else heard or read anything about this? Seems pretty bogus to me. Seems bogus to me too, but I don't see how he's going to monetize advice to touch a tree every day, or wriggle your toes in the dirt. I heard some guy on NPR talking about how it was healthier to run barefoot than with running shoes, but that wasn't because of ions causing free radical damage and aging you faster. His claim was that the feedback you get through your feet helped you run in a way that would better avoid injury. Again, unless he's selling "The Emperor's New Running Shoes," I don't see the harm in the advice, even if it may not be true.
bokonon Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 3,224	__________________ Laugh while you can, monkey boy.

16th November 2009, 03:28 AM	#4
Brian-M Daydreamer Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,049	Looking at the site, it seems fairly woo to me. Quote: Probably the majority of us are not aware that the earth is mobilized with free electrons, they are what we call free anti-oxidant electrons, as research has now discovered. I wonder if there is ANY research to suggest that being slightly negatively charged impairs the action of free radicals in the body? Quote: Those electrons are attracted into our body at the speed of light, the minute we touch the ground barefoot. When we're positively charged, those electrons are attracted to our body at the speed of light all the time no matter where we are in the universe. I don't see how touching the ground barefoot comes into it. (If what they really mean is being barefoot on the dirt this allows the electrons to flow into the body, then why are they bringing up the speed of light?) Quote: This discovery was actually noticed during the telegraph days when they were first putting telegraph wires into the earth. They found out that the earth was entirely covered by electrons that were negatively charged and that prevented oxidation in our bodies. Yeah everybody knows that 19th century telegraph wire technicians were actually biochemists with an advanced understanding of sub-cellular oxidizing agents. Quote: A team of scientists and a group of doctors have been studying every biological marker known to man, including the most significant ones in medicine today - for example, cortisol levels, bilirubin levels, heart rate levels, heart rate variability, respiration levels, and white blood cell levels etcetera - and determining if there is a difference between being grounded (meaning either standing directly on the earth barefoot or touching the earth somewhere with our bare skin) and not being grounded (meaning wearing rubber soled shoes, or being on carpet or linoleum). The answer is a resounding “yes”. There is a HUGE difference in ALL of our body’s biological markers between being grounded and being ungrounded. This is complete ********. Even if they were right about the earth having a negative electric charge that somehow affects your health, then it wouldn't matter whether or not you are grounded, only what your electrostatic charge is, and not being grounded doesn't automatically change that. Hell, being non-grounded could also result you having an even more negative charge than the earth, which according to their theory, would be even better for you. Quote: When you touch a tree, you are grounded, because the tree is a living wood, (not a dry, dead wood like the floors in your house), it has electrolytes and water in it and therefore it is conducting electricity and yes, it can ground you. If you touch a metal pole that is stuck in the earth, you are also grounded. Even a live tree is a pretty poor conductor of electricity, as is dry earth, but the copper plumbing in your home is a very good conductor, and is also grounded. So why don't they suggest you ground yourself through your plumbing, such as by washing your hands after using the toilet, having a shower or washing the dishes? Why don't they suggest that you ground yourself by touching grounded electrical appliance, like computers, toasters and washing machines? Why don't they just suggest buying an ionizer to give the air inside your house a negative charge?
Brian-M Daydreamer Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,049	__________________ "That is just what you feel, that isn't reality." - hamelekim

16th November 2009, 07:36 AM	#5
Speedskater New Blood Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 24	While Mother Earth has just about 0 Ohm resistance from any point to any point (if looked at, at a large enough scale) it is difficult to get a ground rod with less than 25 Ohm resistance to Mother Earth. US Electric Code requires 2 or more ground rods if the ground resistance measurement is not less than this 25 Ohms. This measurement requires rather sophisticated equipment, so most electricians just drive a second ground rod. So if a ground rod has a difficult time connecting with Mother Earth, I don't think that hugging a tree will have much effect.
Speedskater New Blood Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 24

16th November 2009, 09:04 AM	#6
GreyICE Philosopher Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 6,541	I can't see anything wrong with this. Obviously negative emotions cause negative ions (the logical connection is undeniable) which have to be dissipated or the emotions will linger. The best way to dissipate a negative charge is by grounding (because if you put it in contact with a positive charge it'll explode, like antimatter). So you should definitely stick your toes in dirt regularly. My problem kicks in when I have to pay $97 to learn how to get my feet wet.
GreyICE Philosopher Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 6,541	__________________ I love these forums If Hitler was a bloodthirsty psychopath don't you think at least someone would have noticed? - MagZ

15th November 2009, 03:43 PM	#3
GeeMack Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Not Bandiagara Posts: 1,555	Originally Posted by bokonon Seems bogus to me too, but I don't see how he's going to monetize advice to touch a tree every day, or wriggle your toes in the dirt. That part of the advice is free, but the LongevityNOW Program including 5 DVDs and the book, starts at $97. It shows you how to avoid hair loss, lose weight, have more energy, live longer, and a host of other appealing life and health advantages. Too good to be true? Add To Cart >>

16th November 2009, 09:40 AM	#7
Freethinker Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,289	Assuming we are talking about earth ground, or just earth as it is known in many parts of the world, it is an unspecified, essentially random voltage. It may be thousands of volts higher at some point than it is at another point, or thousands of volts higher or lower at some time than it was at another. The most likely health impact of grounding (or earthing) oneself is to increase ones risk of death in the event of electrical shock.
	__________________ “The stupid texts of the Bible - from which, be the talents of the preacher what they may, only stupid sermons can be preached” Thomas Paine

16th November 2009, 10:32 AM	#8
LarianLeQuella Elf Wino Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: 3rd Rock from the Sun Posts: 597	Originally Posted by bokonon I heard some guy on NPR talking about how it was healthier to run barefoot than with running shoes, but that wasn't because of ions causing free radical damage and aging you faster. His claim was that the feedback you get through your feet helped you run in a way that would better avoid injury. Again, unless he's selling "The Emperor's New Running Shoes," I don't see the harm in the advice, even if it may not be true. He was on The Daily Show a while back. Basically his argument is that all the shoe industry is bilking us with all the additional padding that can throw off our natural gait/stride. It's in this book: http://www.amazon.com/Born-Run-Hidde.../dp/0307266303 Not sure exactly what to take from it. Not a big runner myself, so it has very little actual applicability to me. As for the grounding... Totaly psychobable woo. Has all the hallmarks.
	__________________ "Faith does not give you the answers, it just stops you asking the questions." - Frater Ravus "Gods are fragile things; they may be killed by a whiff of science or a dose of common sense." - Chapman Cohen Larian LeQuella Armyn ab Treanid