Well, not exactly, but did you know that being outdoors is not just fun, it’s actually good for us? Ever wondered why a day spent at the beach or trekking through the mountains made us feel so good? Or why the smell of rain makes us feel so refreshed? It’s because this air is filled with more sources of negative ions than positive ions. Both positive and negative ions occur naturally in the air, but high concentrations of negatively charged ions have long been associated with our moods – scientists believe it can even ease depression and improve physical wellbeing.
So where do we find these negative ions? Negative ions are found in places like the beach, the mountains, in the country and near waterfalls. The breaking of the surface water (eg. by waves crashing), waterfalls, or evaporation releases negative ions in the atmosphere.
Ion researcher, Michael Terman, PhD, of Columbia University, NY says “the action of the pounding surf creates negative air ions and we also see it immediately after Spring thunderstorms when people report lightened moods.” Perhaps that’s also why a good shower helps to clear the mind!
When we are indoors, we are surrounded by a greater number of positive ions, which are produced by air conditioning systems, TVs, radios, computers. And in today’s world where we sleep indoors, often work indoors and drive cars in between, our bodies are being exposed to less and less negative ions, making us feel drowsy.And what about sickness? Pierce J. Howard, PhD, and author of The Owners Manual for the Brain: Everyday Applications from Mind Brain Research believes that negative ions “may protect against germs in the air, resulting in decreased irritation due to inhaling various particles that make you sneeze, cough or have a throat irritation.”
So when someone next says ‘it must be something in the air’, they’re probably right!
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