[Note: Below is a new article discussing walking barefoot on grass. How much of it was generated by an agent?]

Have you ever felt the soft blades of grass under your feet and noticed a little lift in your mood? It turns out walking or playing barefoot on grass does more than just feel nice – emerging science suggests it can have real health benefits. In this post we’ll dig into what research says about why kicking off your shoes and connecting with the earth might boost your health. We’ll start by looking at the microbiome and how soil contact influences the trillions of microbes living on our skin. Then we’ll explore other science-backed perks of being barefoot in nature – from calming inflammation to sharpening your balance. Along the way we’ll cover effects on things like immune function, stress, mood, sleep rhythms and more.