Here’s Something Interesting: Positive and Negative Ions
If you have been in a storm, on a hiking trail, at the beach, at a big wide meadow, and felt a sense of relief, that’s actually your body absorbing negative ions.
Negative Ions
Negative ions are molecules floating in the air or atmosphere that have been charged with electricity. They exist in nature in various places like UV rays from the sun, discharges of electricity in the air after a thunderclap or lightning strike, and are produced as part of the normal growth process for a lot of plants.
When you are exposed to negative ions:
- Symptoms of depression are reduced (for some people)
- Cognitive performance is improved
- Short duration of exposure may positively affect seasonal depression (30 minutes roughly)
Positive Ions
Now you may think that positive ions are a good thing; well actually they aren’t.
Electrical charges in the air are conducted more quickly by increased amounts of humidity during cloudy days. Any negative ions also quickly become attached to any particulate matter in the moist air. This leaves a high concentration of positive ions in the air.
These types of ions however, can make you feel unpleasant, sluggish, and sometimes have respiratory irratations.
How to Get Negative Ions
Negative ions exist mostly outside; so being outdoors is the best way to get them. Spend some time by a creek, riverbank, beaches, water fountains, or even hiking trails. Next time it rains, step outside and breathe in the smell. If your daring, you can step all the way outside and you’ll definitely get very wet. Just sitting on your porch or pavilion is good enough. The sound of rain coming down is soothing itself.
The Takeaway
You may not have thought negative and positive ions had an effect on your mood and how you function. In the end, negative ions are good for you, but they aren’t a cure all miracle. They have some benefits to improve your morale and overall health, but if you have a serious medical issue or issues, seek professional medical help.
Here a link to the webpage, I got my information from. There’s more there that go into more details about negative and positive ions if your interested.
https://www.healthline.com/health/negative-ions#takeaway
Take care, stay safe, and remember your not alone and you have worth in this world.
