By Donovan Baldwin
Sure, you know how to breathe...or
do you? And do you know
what breathing can do for
you...beyond keeping you
alive, that is? Did you
know that breathing properly
can help you burn fat even
better than some exercises?
In fact, studies by a California
university have shown that
simply deep breathing can
help burn up to 140% more
calories than riding an
exercycle.
Obviously, oxygen is important
for life, and I think we
can all agree that it would
seem reasonable to assume
that it has a great deal
of importance for health,
fitness, and weight loss.
Not as obvious is that several
factors have made our attention
to oxygen even more important
in the last few years. Studies
show that the level of oxygen
in the air we breathe is
diminishing due to pollution
and climate shifts.
Not only is the level of available
oxygen diminishing, but due to
the stresses of modern life and
lack of physical activity, modern
Americans breathe shallowly and
process oxygen less efficiently.
Most of us have never been shown
how to breathe properly, and we
are poorly able to take in and
process the oxygen that can contribute
to a successful weight loss program.
Oxygen, when used effectively,
can increase metabolism,
flush fat-trapping toxins
from the body, and increase
energy, decrease fatigue,
and encourage a healthy
lifestyle which can lead
to a multi-level attack
on fat in the body.
Oxygen is required by our
intestines to help effectively
process and absorb nutrients.
In fact, this area requires
more oxygen than most other
tissue. When the oxygen
supply is diminished, as
is the case with most shallow-breathing
Americans, this ability
to absorb and process nutrients
can drop almost 75%, according
to research by the University
of Edinburgh.
As expected, increasing
oxygen availability increases
the intestines' ability
to to process nutrients.
Surprisingly, this change
can begin to occur within
a matter of minutes.
To dispose of fat already
stored within the body,
this fat must be combined
with oxygen to help burn
it. Research has shown that
a large percentage of Americans
use less than 25% of their
lungs' capacity. Merely
increasing oxygen intake
through proper breathing
can increase the body's
ability to burn fat by 100%
or more.
The process by which the
body loses weight and creates
energy depends on a substance
called adenosine triphosphate
(ATP). By oxygenating body
cells through effective
breathing produces an environment
which encourages production
of this substance.
Cortisol and insulin are
also produced within the
body. In a normal situation
these chemicals have beneficial
purposes, however, modern
stress can cause over-production
of these chemicals over
extended periods of time.
This leads to many destructive
effects, one of which is
the storage of fat. Proper
breathing keeps the bloodstream
oxygenated, reduces stress,
and decreases cortisol production.
Another major function
of the body is the removal
of toxins. Modern day invaders
such as food preservatives
can cause the glands that
regulate weight to become
less effective. Even worse,
one defense technique of
the body is to form more
fat in an effort to store
those toxins. Well over
half of these toxins can
be converted into gases
which can be expelled from
the body. Studies by one
California Clinic indicated
proper breathing technique
could increase the removal
of these toxins by more
than ten percent.
SO HOW DO YOU BREATHE
FOR WEIGHT LOSS AND HEALTH?
First of all, regular (daily
or almost daily), sustained
activity, such as walking
can, over time, guide your
body to a deep breathing
pattern which will eventually
become almost second nature.
By the way, strolling through
the mall, stopping to look
in windows or chat with
acquaintances, has a place
in a well-rounded life,
but sustained activity means
exactly that...sustained
over periods of at least
20 minutes.
Yoga or Tai Chi are great
ways to learn proper breathing
techniques. In fact, the
effects of these disciplines
hinge to a great degree
on the breathing techniques
they teach.
The simplest thing to do
is simply start breathing
properly. As an exercise,
take a few minutes, standing
or laying down. Feel your
abdominal muscles stretch
as you slowly and deeply
"belly breathe"
to bring large quantities
of oxygen into your body.
Hold that breath for a moment,
tighten your abdominal muscles,
and exhale through your
mouth as if blowing up a
balloon or through a straw.
The goal should be about
15 minutes of this a day,
either in one period, or
over several smaller periods
throughout the day. Once
comfortable with the technique
(which may take a few days)
you can do this laying in
bed (great relaxer at bedtime
or energizer upon awakening),
while driving, sitting at
a desk, or standing at a
cash register. They can
be done almost anywhere,
anytime.
About the Author
The author graduated
from University of West
Florida in 1973 with a BA
in Accounting, retired from
the military after 21 years
of service in 1995. He has
a lifelong interest in health
and fitness and offers weightloss
tips at http://i-want-to-lose-weight.net
.
Article Source: http://www.positivearticles.com
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