Earth & Death: Grounding and its Influence on Aging

“When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’
‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’

This article will be nice and morbid. We’ll be discussing.. death. Or at least the process leading up to that ultimate goodnight. I spent a lot of time thinking about death over the last year with some health issues I was dealing with. In fact, I filled up an entire binder with literature on the physiology of death, even though I knew death was not final, at least in my own person belief. I wanted to know what exactly was the process that indicated the dead state which lead me into a lot of research on gradients among other things. Most of that is beyond the scope of this article. So we’ll stick to a couple theories here as they relate to grounding. Let us begin.

Aging is a complex biological process often accelerated by factors like chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and declining cellular energy production. Over time, the buildup of reactive molecules can damage cells and DNA, while long-term inflammation gradually impairs tissues. These processes contribute to the inexorable decline we recognize as aging – from wrinkled skin due to cross-linked proteins to a weakened immune system prone to disease. In the search for strategies to promote healthy aging in myself and those around me, i’ve spend a lot of time investigating, especially in writing Earth & Water, an unusual yet elemental approach: grounding.

Grounding means physically connecting the body to the Earth’s surface – for example, by walking barefoot on grass or sand, or using conductive mats or electrodes that link the skin to the ground. The Earth’s surface is a vast reservoir of free electrons with a mildly negative charge, maintained by atmospheric electrical circuit. Modern lifestyles (think rubber-soled shoes and high-rise living) insulate us from this natural electric supply. Emerging research suggests that reconnection with the Earth’s electrons may in fact slow down some hallmarks of aging, by impacting physiological mechanisms like oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, inflammation, and the body’s bioelectrical balance. Here, we explore the science behind grounding and how the simple act of touching the Earth might influence cellular longevity and, ultimately, lifespan AND healthspan.

Oxidative Stress Reduction through Earth’s Electrons

One of the central theories of aging implicates cumulative damage from oxidative stress – the harm caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and other free radicals generated during metabolism. Normally, our cells use antioxidants (molecules that donate electrons) to neutralize excess ROS. Grounding appears to offer a constant, natural source of electrons that can serve this antioxidant function. When you are in direct contact with the Earth, electrons flow into the body and readily donate themselves to neutralize free radicals before those radicals can wreak havoc on cells. Researchers hypothesize that this influx of Earth-derived electrons creates an “antioxidant microenvironment” around injury sites and within tissues, preventing ROS from causing collateral damage to healthy cells. In effect, the body is saturated with electrons that quench oxidative molecules, curbing the chain reactions that lead to chronic tissue inflammation and cellular aging. This concept is supported by observations that grounded individuals tend to have lower markers of inflammation and oxidative damage (see E&W). By continuously scavenging excess ROS, grounding may reduce the cumulative oxidative stress that otherwise gradually damages DNA, mitochondria, and cell membranes over a lifetime.

How do Earth’s electrons reach our cells? The human body is highly conductive, composed largely of water and minerals, as well as what I like to call the matrix – a body-wide network of collagen-rich connective tissue and ground substance that can transport electrons throughout the organism. This means when one part of your skin is connected to the ground, the Earth’s electrons can spread through this matrix to distant sites. The matrix is a liquid crystalline semiconductor system linking every organ and cell, even the cell nucleus, in one electrical continuum. In practical terms, grounding “recharges” this circuitry: electrons absorbed through the skin travel along connective tissues and into cells, bolstering the body’s innate antioxidant defense system. This electron flow is a form of electrical nutrition – one that our evolutionary ancestors constantly accessed by staying in direct contact with the Earth. Today, by restoring that contact even briefly, we may help restore a redox balance (the balance between oxidation and antioxidation) that protects cells from age-accelerating damage. Grounding thus addresses oxidative stress not with a high-dose vitamin or drug, but with the subtle, steady supply of the most basic and effective antioxidant there is: the free electron.

Mitochondrial Support and Improved Cellular Energy

If oxidative stress is the fire that slowly ages our cells, the mitochondria are the furnaces where some of those sparks originate. Mitochondria are the tiny power plants in our cells that produce ATP, the energy currency of life, through an electron transport chain. Paradoxically, while mitochondria need oxygen and generate energy, they are also a major source of ROS that can damage cells if not kept in check. Grounding influence mitochondrial function in two key ways: by directly providing electrons to support energy production, and by easing the workload on mitochondria during stress and recovery.

In the electron transport chain of mitochondria, electrons are passed along a series of complexes to ultimately help convert oxygen and nutrients into ATP. Normally, these electrons come from metabolic molecules (like NADH), but an abundant external electron supply can boost this process. In fact, one study looked at how providing extra electrons to cells or animals could increase ATP production and even protein synthesis, which are essential for tissue repair and regeneration. While the study does not directly measure ATP levels in the rats, these metabolic and physiological changes suggest that grounding could enhance ATP production through improved mitochondrial efficiency and better metabolic regulation. Grounding the human body effectively infuses a steady flow of electrons into our system, which might enhance mitochondria to generate energy more efficiently. One review pointed out that Earth’s electrons could fortify mitochondrial electron transport, helping to maintain optimal ATP levels in cells ( Grounding – The universal anti-inflammatory remedy - PMC ). This means that a grounded body may have more cellular energy available to carry out maintenance and repair – processes that tend to falter with age as mitochondrial efficiency declines.

Grounding may also prevent mitochondrial overwork by promoting faster recovery to baseline after stress. In a clinical experiment on delayed-onset muscle soreness (microscopic muscle damage from exercise), grounded subjects showed biochemical signs of quicker recovery and less metabolic strain than ungrounded subjects ( The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases - PMC ) ( The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases - PMC ). Specifically, people who slept grounded after intense exercise had lower blood levels of creatine kinase (a marker of muscle tissue breakdown) and a better balance of inorganic phosphate to phosphocreatine in muscle cells, indicating that their high-energy reserves were maintained. In ungrounded individuals, those same markers indicated that their mitochondria had to work harder and longer to repair tissue damage. By contrast, grounded individuals reached homeostasis faster, so their mitochondria did not need to ramp up energy production as much. One interpretation is that electrons from the Earth helped promptly neutralize the injury-related oxidative bursts and inflammation, allowing cells to stabilize and recover with less effort. In essence, grounding took some burden off the mitochondria.

Conversely, when the body is electron-deprived, as is common in our insulated modern life, mitochondria could be put at a disadvantage. A lack of grounding can lead to electron deficiency in our tissues, which may de-saturate the mitochondrial electron transport chain and contribute to chronic fatigue. In this electron-depleted state, cells struggle to generate energy efficiently, and vital immune functions slow down. This scenario is more likely as we age, since older individuals often have both higher oxidative stress and less efficient energy metabolism. Grounding can be seen as a simple way to electrically refuel our cells. By keeping the mitochondria well-supplied with electrons and preventing excessive oxidative damage to their components, grounding might help sustain mitochondrial function closer to youthful levels. Robust mitochondrial activity translates to cells that can repair themselves better and maintain healthy function longer – a cornerstone of healthy aging.

Fighting Inflammation – Nature’s Antidote to “Inflammaging”

Chronic inflammation is so intertwined with aging that scientists coined the term “inflammaging” to describe the low-grade, simmering inflammation that develops with advancing age. Many age-related diseases – from arthritis and Alzheimer’s to heart disease and diabetes – have roots in chronic inflammatory processes. A persistent inflammatory state gradually damages tissues and organs, accelerating aging and degeneration. Grounding has drawn significant attention for its apparent inflammation-cooling effects, positioning it as one of the potential antidotes to inflammaging.

When an injury or infection occurs, the immune system’s immediate response is to unleash a burst of ROS and signaling molecules to kill pathogens and clean up damaged cells. This is helpful in the short term but can be destructive if the response overshoots or fails to turn off. Thermal imaging, as discussed in Earth & Heart, of people with chronic pain has shown that areas of inflammation cool toward normal temperatures after a night or two of sleeping grounded, corresponding with relief of pain symptoms. These observations align with the idea that incoming electrons from the Earth prevent excessive inflammatory “fire.” By mopping up free radicals (which drive inflammation) and possibly by modulating immune cell activity, grounding helps resolve inflammation faster and prevents it from becoming chronic. Some studies have shown that grounded individuals had fewer circulating neutrophils and lymphocytes after an inflammatory stimulus, hinting at a dampened immune overreaction ( The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases - PMC ).

Beyond acute injuries, the chronic inflammatory load in conditions like autoimmune disorders or metabolic syndrome may also be lightened by grounding. Some clinicians report that patients with autoimmune illnesses (such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis) experience less flare-up pain and improved well-being when they practice regular grounding. While such reports are preliminary, they make sense in light of grounding’s general calming effect on the immune system. In aging, a chief concern is that long-term, unresolved inflammation contributes to tissue breakdown (for example, in joints or arteries) and exhausts the immune system. Grounding directly addresses this by continuously defusing the oxidative molecules that feed inflammation and by stabilizing the electrical environment of tissues, which may help immune signals regulate properly. The net result is a reduction in “silent inflammation” – the kind that one may not notice day to day but that erodes health over time. By cooling this chronic inflammation, grounding could slow one of the fundamental drivers of aging. In an age when inflammation-related chronic diseases are rampant, grounding the body might be an overlooked tool to help prevent the slow burn of aging and disease at its root.

Cellular Longevity and Lifespan Implications

By mitigating oxidative stress, bolstering mitochondrial energy, and quieting chronic inflammation, grounding creates a biochemical balance in which cells can function optimally for longer. Over a lifetime, this could translate into slower aging at the cellular and perhaps organism level. For instance, DNA damage is a major contributor to cellular aging and senescence. Oxidative stress is known to cause DNA breaks and shorten telomeres (the protective end-caps of chromosomes) over time. By continuously neutralizing ROS, earthing may help preserve genetic material integrity, reducing the cumulative DNA damage that drives aging and age-related diseases. In theory, cells that suffer less oxidative and inflammatory damage will enter senescence (a dormant, aged state) more slowly, thereby extending their functional lifespan. This ties into the observation that grounded animals and humans often show faster tissue repair and regeneration ( Grounding – The universal anti-inflammatory remedy - PMC ) ( The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases - PMC ) – a sign that cells are remaining robust and capable of youthful healing responses.

Grounding’s impact on systemic health markers also suggests potential lifespan benefits. Several studies and observations hint that regular grounding can improve chronic health conditions that typically worsen with age. For example, one small pilot study found that in a group of patients with type 2 diabetes, grounding significantly improved blood glucose regulation – effectively enhancing insulin sensitivity and glucose utilization ( Grounding – The universal anti-inflammatory remedy - PMC ). Conversely, when those patients were disconnected from Earth’s field, their blood sugar control deteriorated, implying that lack of Earth contact might aggravate metabolic aging. Since diabetes and metabolic syndrome accelerate aging by damaging blood vessels and other organs, an intervention that helps control blood sugar could have downstream benefits for longevity. Similarly, grounding has been associated with reductions in blood pressure in hypertensive individuals, sometimes enabling them to reduce their medications. High blood pressure is a notorious risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure – leading causes of mortality. The possibility that habitual grounding could keep blood pressure in check opens intriguing prospects for extending cardiovascular healthspan. At the very least, these findings emphasize that electron transfer from the Earth affects not just isolated cells but whole-body physiology in ways that generally favor healthy aging.

Connecting to the Earth addresses many fundamental biochemical and bioelectrical imbalances that underlie age-related degeneration. As one review concluded, virtually all antioxidant and anti-inflammatory processes in the body involve electron transfer reactions – and the Earth may be the most abundant natural source of electrons to drive those reactions ( Grounding – The universal anti-inflammatory remedy - PMC ). By restoring this source, we reawaken a defense mechanism that likely served early humans well before modern habits intervened. In grounded bodies, inflammation is tamped down, stress physiology is tempered, blood flows freely, and cells brim with electrons and energy. These conditions are antagonistic to the aging process. Indeed, they sketch a biological profile more akin to a younger individual.

Conclusion

The simple act of reconnecting to the Earth’s surface – be it by kicking off your shoes outdoors, or using a grounded mat indoors, or rocking Olympus Earthwear – can trigger a cascade of beneficial changes: immediate electron uptake that neutralizes free radicals, a calming of inflammation, support for mitochondrial energy production, improved blood properties, and even normalization of stress hormones and sleep rhythms. Collectively, these effects tackle several key mechanisms of aging. By reducing the wear and tear of oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, and by bolstering the vitality of our cells, grounding may help slow the ticking of our biological clock. It offers a return to an electrical state that human physiology likely evolved to thrive in – literally grounding us in a more youthful equilibrium. While more research is needed to quantify the long-term impact on human lifespan, the current findings from peer-reviewed studies present a persuasive narrative... Maintaining our connection with the Earth’s electrons is not only good for immediate well-being, but could also be a natural, gentle strategy to extend our healthspan. In an era of high-tech anti-aging interventions, the concept of Earth as an anti-aging ally is both radical and elegantly simple. By embracing the ground beneath our feet, we just might tap into a life-sustaining energy that helps keep us younger for longer..

The end! As always, if you’re interested in learning more about grounding, check out Earth & Water.

References:

Harman, D. (1956). Aging: a theory based on free radical and radiation chemistry. Journal of gerontology, 11(3), 298-300. doi: 10.1093/geronj/11.3.298

Finkel, T., & Holbrook, N. J. (2000). Oxidants, oxidative stress and the biology of ageing. Nature, 408(6809), 239-247. doi: 10.1038/35041687

Sies, H. (2015). Oxidative stress: a concept in redox biology and medicine. Redox Biology, 4, 180-183. doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2015.01.002

López-Otín, C., Blasco, M. A., Partridge, L., Serrano, M., & Kroemer, G. (2013). The hallmarks of aging. Cell, 153(6), 1194-1217. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2013.05.039

Trifunovic, A., Wredenberg, A., Falkenberg, M., Spelbrink, J. N., Rovio, A. T., Bruder, C. E., ... & Larsson, N. G. (2004). Premature ageing in mice expressing defective mitochondrial DNA polymerase. Nature, 429(6990), 417-423. doi: 10.1038/nature02517

Lin, M. T., & Beal, M. F. (2006). Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in neurodegenerative diseases. Nature, 443(7113), 787-795. doi: 10.1038/nature05292

Wei, Y. H., Lee, H. C., & Oxidative stress, mitochondrial DNA mutation, and impairment of antioxidant enzymes in aging. (2002). Experimental Biology and Medicine, 227(9), 671-682. doi: 10.1177/153537020222700902

Stadtman ER. Protein oxidation and aging. Free Radic Res. 2006 Dec;40(12):1250-8. doi: 10.1080/10715760600918142. PMID: 17090414.

Russell, A. P., Foletta, V. C., Snow, R. J., & Wadley, G. D. (2014). Skeletal muscle mitochondria: a major player in exercise, health and disease. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects, 1840(4), 1276-1284. Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbagen.2013.11.016

Light, A. R., Bateman, L., Jo, D., Hughen, R. W., Vanhaitsma, T. A., White, A. T., & Light, K. C. (2012). Gene expression alterations at baseline and following moderate exercise in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Syndrome. Journal of Internal Medicine, 271(1), 64-81. Link: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2796.2011.02405.x

Mattson, M. P., & Arumugam, T. V. (2018). Hallmarks of brain aging: adaptive and pathological modification by metabolic states. Cell Metabolism, 27(6), 1176-1199. Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2018.05.011

Grimm, A., Eckert, A. (2017). Brain aging and neurodegeneration: from a mitochondrial point of view. Journal of Neurochemistry, 143(4), 418-431. Link: https://doi.org/10.1111/jnc.14037

Ewald CY. The Matrisome during Aging and Longevity: A Systems-Level Approach toward Defining Matreotypes Promoting Healthy Aging. Gerontology. 2020;66(3):266-274. doi: 10.1159/000504295. Epub 2019 Dec 13. PMID: 31838471; PMCID: PMC7214094.

Statzer C, Park JYC, Ewald CY. Extracellular Matrix Dynamics as an Emerging yet Understudied Hallmark of Aging and Longevity. Aging Dis. 2023 Jun 1;14(3):670-693. doi: 10.14336/AD.2022.1116. PMID: 37191434; PMCID: PMC10187690.

Boltzmann L (1974). The Second Law of Thermodynamics. In: McGuinness B, editor Theor. Phys. Philos. Probl. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, 13-32.

Kirkwood TBL (2005). Understanding the odd science of aging. Cell, 120:437-447.

Denbigh KG (1981). The principles of chemical equilibrium: with applications in chemistry and chemical engineering, 4th ed. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge; New York; 1981.

Hayflick L (2007). Entropy Explains Aging, Genetic Determinism Explains Longevity, and Undefined Terminology Explains Misunderstanding Both. PLOS Genet, 3:e220

López-Otín C, Blasco MA, Partridge L, Serrano M, Kroemer G (2013). The hallmarks of aging. Cell, 153:1194-1217.