Table of contents:
- The benefits of walking barefoot
- 1. Improve blood circulation
- 2. Reducing inflammation
- 3. Improve sleep quality
- 4. Provide free reflexology
- 5. Reducing the risk of heart disease
- 6. Improve posture and overall body balance
- 7. Improve overall fitness
- Disadvantages of walking barefoot
People are starting to forget walking barefoot, even though our ancestors did it all the time. As the times progressed, many people began to wear footwear of various forms. However, did you know that by walking barefoot you can experience various benefits that you would not get if you walked in shoes or sandals? Of course there are pros and cons to this, some say that the benefits of this activity outweigh the disadvantages, but some say the opposite. To see the truth, let's take a look at the pros and cons of walking barefoot below.
The benefits of walking barefoot
1. Improve blood circulation
RunBare states that by walking barefoot, you will use the additional muscles in your legs and feet to help balance your body and send messages to your brain. By using the additional muscles, as with exercise, the blood circulation to the legs will increase.
2. Reducing inflammation
RunBare also states that the free radicals responsible for inflammation can be reduced by the process grounding. The process is simply done walking barefoot and allows your body, which carries positive ions in free radicals, to touch the ground which has negative ions that are good for the body.
3. Improve sleep quality
Walking by touching the ground directly can cause negative ions to enter the body. Negative ions can help you improve sleep quality. In addition, walking barefoot can also balance the circadian rhythm to provide good awareness when awake. So, walking barefoot can make your body work as a natural reminder of sleep and wake times.
4. Provide free reflexology
Lallous' Lab claims that walking on uneven surfaces can stimulate various areas on the soles of the feet, so they can act as free massage sessions. In China there are many reflexology trails, the paths are filled with smooth stones for people who walk barefoot.
5. Reducing the risk of heart disease
A study published in Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine state that grounding can reduce blood clotting and clotting in red blood cells which is a major factor in cardiovascular disease.
6. Improve posture and overall body balance
According to Medical Daily, walking barefoot can force the body to train and strengthen the small muscles in the legs. The brain learns to pay attention to the signals sent from the feet, thereby improving posture and body balance. The Foundation for Health in Aging said that the study of walking on stones can help parents improve their balance and strength.
7. Improve overall fitness
The same study found that older people who walked on stones reduced blood pressure, improved balance, and improved overall fitness better than parents who simply walked regularly.
Disadvantages of walking barefoot
Questions about the safety of walking barefoot have been handled by professional doctors, and the answer depends, as follows:
- Many podiatrists believe that the number one problem with walking without shoes is a lack of support for the feet, and that it creates a variety of foot problems.
- Doctors are concerned about the possibility of bacterial, fungal and viral infections due to bare feet.
- The possibility of plantar warts and viral infection is more common on dirty surfaces. Athlete's foot and fungal infections are also common in changing rooms and other wet surfaces.
- Another concern is the possibility of stepping on broken glass or nails which could lead to a tetanus infection.
- The possibility of catching hookworms can also occur when your feet come into direct contact with animal waste, which is usually found in sand and grass.
From the above information, we can conclude that walking barefoot does have some negative sides. But on the other hand, being barefoot has a myriad of benefits for the body. So that you are not affected by the negative effects of walking barefoot, then avoid sharp objects on the surface and other dangerous objects. In addition, walk for 5 minutes every day so that your body becomes healthy.
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