A healthy adult breathes 12 to 20 times per minute. However, we should all be taking fewer breaths per minute, approximately 6-8 per minute.
Even though we take a lot of breaths, most of us aren’t conscious that we aren’t breathing properly. Because it is closely related to our body’s Oxygen level, optimal breathing has a significant impact on our health and well-being.
In this article, we’ll discuss why Oxygen is so vital to humans, as well as five easy ways to obtain more of it.
We get 90% of our energy from Oxygen.
Breathing employs chemical and mechanical mechanisms to provide Oxygen to all of the body’s cells while also removing carbon dioxide. To get the energy to power all of our life activities, our bodies require Oxygen.
That procedure produces carbon dioxide as a waste product. With its conduction and respiratory zones, the respiratory system transports air from the environment to the lungs and enables gas exchange in the lungs and inside cells.
Breath is responsible for 90% of our total energy.
To release the energy contained in food components such as sugars, carbohydrates, and proteins, cells require Oxygen to break apart the chemical connections between them.
What is the significance of Oxygen?
Oxygen is the most vital nutrient for our cells; it is required for every function in our bodies, and it is the source of energy for our bodies and muscles.
Breathing through our lungs provides Oxygen to our cells, keeps our brain and heart beating, and is thus, without a doubt, the most essential priority and muscle in our body. SPO2 is a method for determining the amount of oxygen in your blood.
SPO2 is a medical term for measuring a person’s Oxygen saturation in the bloodstream, and it is a common aspect of patient care all around the world.
SPO2 stands for peripheral capillary Oxygen saturation, indicating that the Oxygen saturation in the blood is being tested. A pulse oximeter is used to determine the SPO2 level.
It calculates how much Oxygen your blood transports concerning its maximal capacity.
The typical level of SPO2 is between 94 and 99 percent. SPO2 levels are often lower in those with lung disorders. SPO2 below 90% is dangerous and puts a burden on the heart, lungs, and liver.
What can I do to obtain more Oxygen?
Our cells, physical function, and strength all require Oxygen. And the more Oxygen we have, the better we will operate. You may teach your body to get more Oxygen by doing a variety of exercises.
One of these is cardio activity; however, focusing simply on exercise while attempting to boost Oxygen levels is insufficient. Cardio activity strengthens your cardiovascular and respiratory systems, but it doesn’t guarantee that your breathing is at its best.
Here are five key strategies to get extra Oxygen:
- Take a deep breath.
Go outdoors and open your windows. Fresh air will give you more energy and supply you with more Oxygen in your lungs. - Drink plenty of water
Our lungs need to be hydrated to Oxygenate and expel carbon dioxide, therefore drinking adequate water affects Oxygen levels. Every day, we lose around 400 milliliters of water. - Consume meals that are high in iron.
Certain foods can aid in the improvement of blood Oxygen levels. Iron is a mineral that our red blood cells, which carry blood throughout the body, require. That is why, if we are deficient in iron, we may feel fatigued and exhausted.
Green leafy vegetables like kale and broccoli, as well as fruits, are excellent providers of iron. - Workout
The more efficiently we can collect and use Oxygen, the more energy our cells can create. As a result, increased Oxygen usage will improve our endurance.
There is a definite link between our ability to perform and the amount of oxygen we take in. The maximum Oxygen uptake is measured as VO2 max. The higher the VO2, the more endurance you’ll have. The best training strategies for increasing Oxygen levels are interval and sprint training.