An ion is an atom that has either lost or gained an electron. When an atom loses an electron, it becomes a positive ion. When it gains one it becomes a negative ion. Negative ions are good for the body. Negative Ion bracelets are a growing industry, with a number of companies entering the business in the last decade, garnering millions of dollars in profits. Thousands of people across the world wear them and boast of their effectiveness. Negative ion bracelets work by combining metals such as steel, copper and gold in a way that produces negative ions around your body. The exact material used and in what proportions is a trade secret, but the effects of these negative ions are not secret. Many users report several health benefits from negative ion bracelets.