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There may be benefits to going barefoot

Marisca plans on kicking off her shoes and feeling the ground on National Barefoot Day (June 1)
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Today (June 1) is National Go Barefoot Day.

The average person owns 19 pairs of shoes. I’m pretty sure my children exceed the national average, sometimes I think they are centipedes when I go shopping. And yet, they rarely wear them. They love to go barefoot. My two year old’s feet are always dirty, it is next to impossible to get her to put on shoes.

Maybe she knows something I don’t. It turns out there are plenty of benefits of going barefoot. One study discovered that people who regularly walk without shoes on have a connection to the Earth. Experts found a reduction in white blood cells and an increase in red blood cells, which hints at better immunity. Barefoot walking has also been shown to help increase antioxidants, reduce inflammation and improve sleep.

Another study showed it can also relieve stress because green is a soothing colour that can help calm your mind. The level of endorphins can increase when walking on grass.

Today is a good day to kick off your shoes and feel the grass and dirt between your toes.

However, on the flip side, walking without shoes exposes our feet to bacteria and fungi that can cause skin and nail infections. So it is good to wash up when you come inside.

Aside from encouraging people to connect with the ground, National Go Barefoot Day was created to encourage people to donate to a charity that helps raise money or donate footwear to those without.

There are hundreds of million people who are too impoverished to own shoes.

There is a charity called Soles4Souls Canada. They aim to turn unwanted shoes and clothing into opportunities by keeping them from going to waste and putting them to good use.

They distribute new shoes and clothing in Canada and around the world as well as help people in developing countries launch and sustain their own small businesses selling donated shoes and clothing. The Canadian non-profit organization also helps the environment by repurposing unwanted items and putting them to good use. It keeps them out of landfills and extends their lifespan.

This National Go Barefoot Day I plan to sink my toes in the grass, connect with the Earth and then count my blessings as I count how many shoes I actually own, and clean out my closet.

Any shoes with lots of life left in them will be donated.

While I do these things, I’ll encourage my children to join in.

READ MORE: Everyone can be a tree hugger


@MariscaDekkema
marisca.bakker@interior-news.com

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Marisca Bakker

About the Author: Marisca Bakker

Marisca was born and raised in Ontario and moved to Smithers almost ten years ago on a one-year contract.
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