Rain Is Good for Your Body

Did You Know…that rain is good for your body?

Next time it rains, take advantage—sing in the rain or splash in a puddle, because that rain has significant positive health effects.

Rain charges the air with health—giving negative ions, which are electrically charged particles that attach themselves to damaging free radicals and thereby protect you from their negative effects.  Negative ions travel to your bloodstream, where they stimulate biochemical reactions that…

  Positively influence mood
  Help lift depressed spirits
  Rev up your energy throughout the day

They also alkalize your body so that your pH is slightly more alkaline than acidic… pushing you towards a happy equilibrium of 7.365.

And rainwater isn’t the only carrier of these beneficial negative ions.  Wherever water moves, negative ions are released.  That includes rivers, lakes, mountains, and oceans.  So step out into the rain, swim in the ocean, paddle on a lake, and take as many deep breaths of those negative ions as you can!

 

Negative vs. Positive Ions

An ion is an atom or molecule with an unequal number of electrons and protons.  A positive ion has more protons than electrons, and a negative ion has 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.  Positive ion-rich environments, such as heavily populated cities and re-circulated indoor air, can greatly contribute to fatigue, anxiety, and moodiness. 


Negative Ions Have Positive Health Effects 

Unlike positive ions, negative ions have a health-enhancing effect, and research has shown that they can help improve mood, soothe stress, and protect our lungs from foreign airborne particles.

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., claims:

“Generally speaking, negative ions increase the flow of oxygen to the brain; resulting in higher alertness, decreased drowsiness, and more mental energy.”

Researchers from Jerusalem University analyzed the effects of positive versus negative ions on alertness and work capacity.  They put women and men between the ages of 20 and 65 in a room filled with mostly positive ions and found that subjects became irritable and fatigued.  But when participants were put into a room infused with negative ions…

  • Their brainwaves registered as increased alertness and relaxation
  • They scored higher on tests measuring alertness and work capacity both during and immediately after exposure

Breathing in Negative Ions 

The best way to increase your exposure to negative ions is to get out in nature: enjoy a day swimming at the beach, hiking in the mountains after rain, or picnicking by a river or lake.  Go to the spa (many spas are infused with negative ions)… you 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.