By: @jenacovello and @eatyourbeautyblog

I was stressed the F out in LA and barely sleeping. Originally I thought it was because I’m an entrepreneur so naturally I wake up at 4am every day and never takes naps. But I am also a sensitive empath who absorbs much of the energy surrounding me. After months if not years of careful contemplation I finally decided to leave California and make the beach my home. I cried the day I left LA. I’m lying. I had a full blown anxiety attack. I mourned that I wouldn’t see all of my best girlfriends weekly and mourned the place I thought I’d never leave. I mourned the palm trees on Canon Blvd and my precious Kitty Farrah Joon who passed away in the spring. I started my life in LA with her so it was a hard transition to say goodbye to our home. But I knew that my soul was yearning for a new chapter! When I first arrived in my new home on the beach, I literally fell asleep on the floor without any furniture because the sound of the waves made me feel so good. I felt like I could finally catch my breath and breathe deeply. I felt a sense of calmness and relaxation that I haven’t felt in an eternity. @eatyourbeautyblog investigates the incredible benefits of the best tranquilizer in the world...

Who doesn’t feel incredibly refreshed and relaxed after spending a day at the beach? The smell of salty sea air, the rhythmic sound of the ocean’s waves crashing upon the shore, the sensation of the sun’s warmth upon your skin, the feeling of sand scrunching beneath your feet and that vast view of glistening blue water. It’s all so good, right?

The reason it all feels so good has to do with the large amount of negative ions being absorbed by your body. Negative ions are electrically charged atoms that have gained an electron and while the name may sound misleading, they have a very positive effect on your health. 

Unfortunately, in today’s toxic world, we are bombarded with positive ions or electrically charged atoms that have lost an electron. These positive ions can be generated by anything that’s toxic or has electromagnetic capabilities. So pollution, chemicals, toxins, emfs, viruses and bacteria, all contribute to the positive ions in our atmosphere. 

It is said that while fresh country air contains up to 4,000 negative ions per cubic centimeter (the size of a sugar cube) and waterfalls and sea water contain up to 10,000 negative ions per cubic centimeter, a crowded city may only have less than 100 negative ions per cubic centimeter. The lack of negative ions and too many positive ions creates an electrical imbalance in our bodies which can have a detrimental effect on our health. 

Spending time in nature, especially at the beach where negative ions are abundant, can have a profound effect on your mental, physical and emotional wellbeing. Just standing barefoot on the sand alone, you are able to absorb an incredible amount of the Earth’s negative ions through your feet. Then there’s the force of the ocean’s waves splashing against the sand, causing a massive amount of negative ions to be created and released into the water and air, which we absorb through our breath and skin.

So what kind of benefits can you expect to see from spending time by the ocean?  According to Pierce J Howard, PhD, and author of The Owners Manual for the Brain: Everyday Applications from Mind Brain Research, negative ions increase the flow of oxygen to the brain; resulting in higher alertness, decreased drowsiness, and more mental energy. They also have a mood boosting effect. Research shows, that once negative ions reach our bloodstream, they produce biochemical reactions that increase levels of  serotonin in the brain, helping to relieve depression, stress and boost energy. Michael Terman, Ph.D. and professor at Columbia University, has researched negative ions extensively and found that if there’s a high concentration of them in the air, they can have a temporary antidepressant effect in as little as 30 minutes.

Negative ions also benefit our health by:

• Neutralizing free radicals 
• Revitalizing cell metabolism
• Enhancing immune function
• Purifying the blood
• Increasing circulation, so that the blood is able to deliver oxygen and nutrients to all the tissues
• Balancing the autonomic nervous system, promoting deep sleep and healthy digestion
• Clearing the air of airborne allergens such as pollen, mold spores, bacteria and viruses

The ocean’s healing capabilities even go beyond the effects of its negative ions. According to Richard Shuster, PsyD, clinical psychologist, the color blue has a profound calming effect on people. He says just “staring at the ocean actually changes our brain waves’ frequency and puts us into a mild meditative state”. Also, listening to the sound of the waves activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which makes us more relaxed.

So next time you’re stressed out, tired or feeling down, head to the beach for a proper dose of mother nature’s most ancient form of energy medicine, negative ions.

***THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR REGULATED BY THE FDA.  WE ARE NOT DOCTORS, THEREFORE ALWAYS CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR FIRST