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These articles are an eclectic mix of topics discussed in my office.

Chapter 20     September  2007

OPTIMIZE YOUR BREATHING


Oxygen is essential to the human body's metabolic process, which sustains life.  Since the human body cannot store oxygen for later use as it does with food and water, oxygen deprivation of more than a few minutes will cause unconsciousness.  Organ damage (notably the heart and brain) occurs if deprived of oxygen for much longer than four minutes, and death will occur shortly after.  Air is the most common and only natural source of oxygen so we must breathe continuously to live. 


Metabolism is a collection of chemical reactions that takes place in the body's cells to convert the food we eat into the energy needed to power everything we do, from moving to thinking to growing.  Metabolism is a constant process that begins at conception and ends when we die.


Basal metabolic rate, or BMR, is a measure of the rate at which a person's body uses or "burns" energy (in the form of calories) while at rest.  A person with a low BMR will tend to gain more pounds of body fat over time than a similar-sized person with an average BMR, even if they eat the same amount of food and get the same amount of exercise.  Heredity determines the tendency to develop a certain level of BMR but people can actually change their BMR through life-style changes.


The most common belief is that increasing exercise is the only way to increase BMR.  However, according to Encarta Encyclopedia, "although skeletal-muscle contraction is a main feature of exercise, many other systems in the body are activated to support this process... As a person engages in regular aerobic exercise, the heart, lungs, and muscles all become more efficient at using oxygen. The heart pumps more blood with each stroke, the lung capacity of each inhalation increases and the muscle fibers extract more oxygen from the blood." 


Now, think about this.  Metabolism, the body's chemical reaction that converts the fuel in food into energy and requires oxygen, is similar to combustion, a chemical process in which a substance reacts with oxygen to produce heat and light.  Adding more oxygen to a fire makes it burn hotter and faster.  Restricting oxygen slows down a fire and totally smothering the fire will kill it.


If the rate of combustion slows from reducing oxygen, then body metabolism must also slow down from lower intakes of oxygen.  Therefore, it makes sense that inhaling more oxygen will increase the basal metabolic rate so that the body burns calories hotter and faster. 


Since increased oxygen intake is one of the major benefits of exercise, it seems entirely possible to experience some of the benefits of exercise by increasing oxygen intake.  Optimizing the breathing process should be able to accomplish some of the benefits of beginning exercise. 


Most of us have good intentions to go to the gym or out for a walk or run, right up until we fall into bed, realizing another day has passed and we did not manage to make time for it.  Some of us are just plain lazy and hate to exercise.  (That would be me!)  Some of us are sick or injured and cannot exercise.  Nevertheless, we are all still breathing, and we can control our breathing and we can improve our health by optimizing that breathing!


The benefits of increasing the intake of oxygen by deep diaphragmatic breathing are enormous.  Every system and part of the body is affected.  I think that even though breathing is so important we do it automatically, that very automatic process makes us forget about the importance of it.  How ridiculous we are!


Increased oxygen intake can:

1. Increase energy levels.

2. Relieve stress and the symptoms of stress.

3. Massage and drain the lymphatic system.

4. Improve brain function.

5. Balance endocrine chemistry.

6. Reduce Depression.

7. Ease muscle tension and pain.

8. Reduce insulin sensitivity.

9. Correct all GI issues by exercising and energizing the vital organs.

10. Promote relaxation and ease Insomnia.

11. Reduce adrenal fatigue.

12. Increase Basal Metabolic Rate.

13. Facilitate weight loss.

14. Improve hormonal balance to reduce menstrual and menopausal symptoms.

15. Increase cardiovascular capacity.

16. Burn accumulated fat for energy.

17. Strengthen abdominal muscles.

18. Flatten stomach.

19. Reduce the dangerous abdominal fat.

20. Detoxify, ridding the body of more waste products.

21. Heal and reduce skin eruptions.

22. Slow aging process.

23. Reduce blood pressure.

24. Improve heart health and endurance.

25. Improve posture.

Wait!  This list is getting too long.  I think it would be easier to say, "There is no part of the body or condition affecting the body that is not improved by increasing oxygen intake."  Or, "Deep Breathing Improves Everything!"


It is amazing what a huge improvement we can all make in our health so easily!  And, it is FREE!  No gym fee or equipment is necessary.  No expensive shoes or special clothing is required.  The schedule is not dependent or anybody else. 


Start getting better right now!  Straighten up, pull those shoulders back, and put a smile on your face and:


EXHALE, contract you abdominal muscles as you exhale more, 1...2...3...

INHALE, relax and expand you stomach as you sniff in a little more, 1...2...3...


Repeat 30 times and go drink a big glass of water.


Patricia Kenworthy         © September 2007

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
    "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
    "You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
    "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
    "Because I said so, that's why."

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.
   "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
    "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

7. My mother taught me IRONY.
    "Keep on crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
    "Shut your mouth and eat your supper."


9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
    "Look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
      "You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
      "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
      "If I've told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
      "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
      "Stop acting like your father!"

15. My mother taught me about ENVY.
      "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
      "Just wait until we get home."

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING.
      "You are going to get it when you get home!"

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
      "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."

19. My mother taught me ESP.
      "Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

20. My mother taught me HUMOR.
      "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.
      "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

22. My mother taught me GENETICS.
      "You're just like your father."

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.
      "Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

24. My mother taught me WISDOM.
      "When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

25. And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE.
      "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you

 

26. And last but not least. My mother taught me about LOVE.

"No matter how much you screw up, I'll always love you!

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