Breathe for Health: Boost Your Immune System With a Powerful Breathing Technique

There is a simple breathing technique that both reduces stress and supports the immune system. You can do this anytime without drawing attention to yourself to calm your mind, balance your emotions, and enhance your health. 

Breathing is profoundly important for our well-being. A healthy adult takes more than a dozen breaths in a minute, while an infant can take 5 times that many breaths. Humans cannot go for more than a few minutes without breathing. 

Breathing through the nose is a vital practice for daily health. It’s also a powerfully calming and rejuvenating technique for times of stress. This simple practice can significantly impact your health. 

Inhaling through the nose stimulates the release of nitric oxide in the nasal cavity. Nitric oxide is an important molecule that signals every system in the body. Nitric oxide especially has a significant effect on cardiovascular function where it helps to lower blood pressure and increase blood flow to all the organs.

Nitric oxide also supports respiratory function, digestion, memory, hormones, skin health, and immune defense. The best way to get nitric oxide is through nose breathing and the stimulation of the paranasal sinuses.

Nose breathing also supports immune functioning by filtering the air as we inhale through the nostrils, and warming the nose as we exhale so the air is healthier for our lungs.

Through deep relaxed nose breathing, we can increase the oxygenation of our heart, brain, and organs and optimize our wellness! Nose breathing can also help to calm you down in times of stress.

Breathing is one of the most important health practices for every day of our lives. Breathing through the nose is a powerful action that can directly and immediately support the immune system, optimize daily wellness, and boost resilience during stressful situations.

A full breath should fill the lungs, move the diaphragm lower, and gently expand the ribs and abdomen. With a relaxed spine and belly, the movement of inhalation is felt from side to side in the core, from front to back, and top to bottom. Many people breathe shallowly only filling the chest and this limits oxygenation of the body. 

Breathing is important to bring oxygen into the body and to help move blood and lymph through the body through constant movements. The more the movement of the breath is felt through the body, the greater the effects of the breath on our health. 

Outdoor fresh air is also important for our bodies and optimal breathing health. Going for a walk outdoors and breathing freely through the nose is a powerful practice to boost the immune system, increase circulation, and enhance feelings of well-being. Breathing through the nose while exercising also boosts oxygenation.

Opening a window and bring fresh air into our house is also helpful to create an optimal environment for healthy breathing. 

Remember that your breath is something that you can always focus on in times of stress to help relax, and to help support wellness. Though our bodies naturally breathe without us having to think about each minute of our lives, with attention we can utilize the breath consciously to achieve greater health and higher levels of performance in our lives.