Did You Know…that negative ions can help improve your mood and overall health?
Natural, pristine, unpolluted environments—rivers, lakes, mountains, and beaches—are infused with invisible, health-giving molecules called negative ions.
Experts believe these negative ions travel to your bloodstream, where they induce biochemical reactions that can beneficially impact mood, help alleviate depression and stress, and keep you energized throughout the day.
Negative vs. Positive Ions
Positive ions have more protons than electrons, and negative ions have more electrons than proteins. Positive ions are abundant in environments with high wind, significant pollution, and humidity. They are typically carbon dioxide molecules that have been robbed of an electron. Environments rich in positive ions, such as heavily populated cities, can greatly contribute to fatigue, anxiety, and moodiness.
Master Your Moods
Research shows that exposure to high-density negative air ions can help reduce the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and non-seasonal chronic depression.
A study made up of 99 adults and published in the American Journal of Psychiatry showed that a negative ion generator was just as effective as bright light therapy at improving SAD.
- Patients improved 42.7% when exposed to high-density negative ions
- Patients improved 22.7% when exposed to low-density negative ions
The authors wrote: “Naturalistic dawn simulation and high-density ionization are active antidepressants that do not require the effort of postawakening bright light therapy. They can be considered candidate alternatives to bright light or medication.”
Psychological Medicine published a study showing how patients with Major Depressive Disorder improved 51.1% when exposed to high-density negative air ions.
According to the International Journal of Psychophysiology, the salivary responses of volunteers participating in a 40-minute word processing task on the computer exhibited a decrease in salivary chromogranin A-like immunoreactivity, which is a marker of stress and anxiety, when exposed to negative ions. |
Protect Your Lungs
Tiny organelles called cilia line our tracheas (windpipes) and keep airborne particles from reaching our lungs. However, if cilia activity is suppressed, then foreign particles make it into our lungs rather than being discharged through saliva and mucus. University of Berkeley researchers found that negative ion exposure boosted cilia activity in the tracheas of humans and monkeys, while positive ion exposure inhibited cilia activity.
How to Increase Negative Ion Exposure
Your best source of negative ions is nature—whether swimming at the beach, hiking in the mountains, or picnicking by a river or lake. Many spas are infused with negative ions, as well. You can even increase your exposure by taking a shower!
If you have a backyard, cultivate a negative ion-generating garden with a fountain and oxygen-producing plant life. As for your home and office, it never hurts to invest in a negative ion generator to help purify the air and add in some extra negative ions.
