Oxygen For Life

Oxygen is the most essential of all the nutrients, including vitamins and minerals. After five minutes of oxygen deprivation, the brain cells begin to die, and human life is over.

Most of the oxygen we inhale goes to sustain the brain and heart; the liver also needs oxygen for cell regeneration. Oxygen therapy benefits people with damaged liver and brain functions, such as alcoholics; with sufficient oxygen in the system, there is more life and less attraction to intoxicants. Oxygen brings vitality to our cells, organs, and attitude.

Oxygen is a purifier, helping eliminate wastes and toxins. It destroys germs, viruses, parasites, amoebas, and yeasts. It is the agent by which our metabolism (the complex physical and chemical processes necessary for maintaining life) refines the fuel needed for the body’s cells to perform their jobs. Oxygen is needed for vitamin C utilization, to retard collagen breakdown (collagen fibers, part of connective tissue, provide strength to the body and the ability to resist physical stress), and to prevent premature aging.

Oxygen deficiency symptoms include acid stomach, bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections, bronchial and circulation problems, lowered immunity, muscle aches, overall body weakness, and poor digestion; also depression, dizziness, fatigue, irrational behavior, irritation, and chronic hostility.

Try this simple exercise to take in more air. Stand (or sit), feet comfortably apart, arms relaxed down by your sides. Breathing in through your nose, turn your palms up, lift your arms out to the sides, and reach up toward the sky. Fill your lungs, fill your whole body, with invigorating air. As you breathe out, turn your palms down, sweep your arms back to your sides, and push the breath out your open mouth to empty your lungs. Repeat three times.

Scientists have discovered that atmospheric oxygen content in ancient times measured twice as high as that of today: 38% 10,000 years ago, 21% today, and continuing to decrease due to pollution and industrialization. The lower the dissolved oxygen content, the greater our susceptibility to chronic illness and disease. According to molecular biologist Dr. Stephen A. Levine, “Hypoxia, or lack of oxygen in the tissues, is the fundamental cause for all degenerative disease.”

What helps increase and distribute oxygen in the body? Physical activity and regular exercise, because muscular action helps draw oxygen into the lungs, and helps the heart and circulatory system move oxygenated blood throughout the body. Yogic breathing exercises engage our awareness of the breath, allowing our intake of oxygen to deepen and move through the body. Living in a rural area helps, as oxygen content falls to 10% in city air.

Toxins in the body from overeating or excessive meat-eating use up oxygen reserves to deal with the ensuing waste matter. (If you like a 12-oz. steak for dinner, bear in mind that the body has difficulty processing more than 3 ounces of meat at one time.) Fasting, eating few animal products, and eating smaller amounts at meals is less taxing on the body, and frees up oxygen to bolster our systems instead of being diverted to clear them out.

We don’t generally think about breathing, since it goes on whether we’re aware of it or not, but that doesn’t mean we wouldn’t do well to raise our consciousness of it. Besides taking a fuller breath in, it’s important to fully exhale, to get rid of old, stale air in the bottom lungs. When we exhale completely, there’s room for the next breath to come in, to fill the lungs with fresh, energizing air.

You’re on your way to a more satisfying breath, and a more functional body – enjoy!

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