Sep 22 2014

The Positive of Negative Ions

By: Jhesika Menes

Living positively relates directly to how negative forces are imposed upon and henceforth received or processed by the subject. This simple molecular exercise of physics composes the yin and yang of life—everything in nature behaves as a result of positive and negative charge. The misconception is that negative ions are bad, but the opposite is true. Negative ions are actually good. For instance, negative ions are mass produced in environments where air molecules are disbanded due to circulation, sunlight and water presence. After a thunderstorm, negative ions peak, increasing the flow of oxygen, which stimulates euphoria, lightened mood and mental alertness. The same habitats are formed in serene areas such as beach shorelines, waterfalls and mountainous regions. This is why your vacation in these sorts of places is so Zen; that, and because you are far removed from the vertiginous norm of daily life in the city and/or office building. The latter settings are a breeding ground for positive ions. The ions gain charge from electricity, a commonly overused resource in the home and workplace. Computers and cellphones are the primary vessels for the positive transference, while ordinary microbic elements such as dust, pet dander and pollen supply enough positive charge to cause irritation in a negatively charged environment.

In the words of Paula Abdul, “It ain't fiction, just a natural fact; we come together as opposites attract.” The human body is organically negative in charge. The positively charged emissions we’re surrounded by, be they pollutants or technology-based radiation, are drawn to us by the law of attraction. As rudimentary as that may be, the actual science behind how to rid oneself of these circumspect factors is willfully opaque at best, given that they are unavoidable in our modern world. By simply breathing, you inhale these pesky positive ions, which then alter the negative internal setting with absolute charge. Mark Sisson, author of The Primal Blueprint, explains, “The trachea is the windpipe, the passage through which air travels into our lungs. Along the trachea are cilia, tiny organelles which keep airborne particles from passing into the lungs. If cilial activity is inhibited, as in cystic fibrosis, more foreign particles are introduced into the lungs. If cilial activity is uninhibited, the junk is kept out of the lungs and discharged later via saliva and mucus. Research shows that negative ion exposure increases cilial activity in the trachea of humans and monkeys, while positive ion exposure inhibits it.” That said, in order to evolve with the times and research, products have been developed to cleanse the air in the home or office by releasing negative ions into the atmosphere. Meanwhile, conscious breathing-centered activities, such as yoga and meditation, have adapted to this cleansing method.

Krystall Snemyr, owner and instructor at Bikram Yoga New Orleans, attests to the ancient practice of yoga and the benefits of controlled breathing in purified zones. “The particular system that Bikram Yoga New Orleans uses to produce a hot climate for yoga practice is more sophisticated than one you might find in your home or business. The systems we have in place at the studio not only generate high heat temperatures, but also control humidity, air flow and air quality. Although heat radiates from a high temperature source, we also have components that constantly bring in fresh air straight from outdoors. Hot yoga studios have certainly evolved over time and currently there is a plethora of technology available that allows these rooms to be heated for the benefits of hot yoga practice but still provide high-quality air. Personally, I have practiced in old, ‘stuffy’ studios where the air quality was just downright icky. I would say that regular students of hot yoga are usually able to decipher between studios that have outdated systems and those with newer, more complex systems. Understanding the science of air (and how this translates to our bodies and ‘what we feel’) has become quite fascinating to me, especially since opening a studio where it is of utmost importance. Basically, yoga postures and exercises promote balance in all systems of the body, including cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, lymphatic, endocrine and exocrine. Coupled with the yoga postures, the focus on breathing begins to calm and ground the individual.”

Yoga and alternative meditation-based therapies may be choice options for city dwellers trying to abolish cation-induced distress, but the main question lies in how one escapes cell signals and Wi-Fi networks that continuously zip through the air around them. While there are no national standards for safe exposure levels to radio-frequency (RF) energy such as wireless fidelity and cellular tower signals, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) continue to investigate issues related to RF exposure. Health Canada has developed guidelines for safe human exposure to energy and made its findings aware to the general public in Canada. “The energy given off by Wi-Fi is a type of non-ionizing radiation. Unlike ionizing radiation (as emitted by X-ray machines), energy from Wi-Fi equipment and other wireless devices cannot break chemical bonds. While some of the RF energy emitted by Wi-Fi is absorbed in your body, the amount largely depends on how close your body is to a Wi-Fi enabled device and the strength of the signal. Unlike cellular phones, where the transmitter is in close proximity to the head and much of the RF energy that is absorbed is deposited in a highly localized area, RF energy from Wi-Fi devices is typically transmitted at a much greater distance from the human body. This results in very low average RF energy absorption levels in all parts of the body, much like exposure to AM/FM radio signals.” 

Since inhabited urban environments eradicated of free radicals are nearly nonexistent, diet is a sensible and handy first defense. Metabolism, which is the process of acquiring nutrients from the blood and excreting waste from the body, is extremely important to human cells. The more negatively charged electric ions there are in the blood, the more efficient the cell’s metabolic processes are. Alkaline foods, such as dark green leafy vegetables, institute a stable biological climate to receive maximum benefit. Other examples of alkaline foods are sweet potatoes, green beans, cucumbers, broccoli, healthy fruits such as pears, cantaloupe, apples and raspberries and protein sources such as almonds, whey and soy.

Seed, on Prytania St., assumed the space that was once Blue Plate Cafe. Founder Edgar Cooper’s mission highlights the use of “local, organic, or purely natural ingredients while growing a fresh and sustainable dining experience grounded in New Orleans taste.” Seed’s menu boasts a mother lode of melt-your-face salads and indigenous fruits and veggies. Be sure to bring your culinary curiosity and a big appetite.
According to owner John Michael Wade, La Casita, located in the Warehouse District, is where locals can get handcrafted, authentic Mexican food. Occupying a ground-level space in the stretch of gallery row referred to as The Thirteen Sisters, the restaurant serves quality appetizers, salads and specialty tacos like The Mission: broiled Louisiana shrimp, pickled cabbage, sliced radish and avocado. The menu stays true to its cuisine of root – simple. Artful combinations of basic components are unified in flavor and visual appeal, while the negative ion–friendly rear courtyard is a definite added bonus.

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