Why Breathing Properly Is So Important for Your Whole Body 🌿💨

Our body is the most marvelous and powerful house we will ever live in. Every moment, it works for us — sometimes quietly, sometimes loudly — but always with one mission: to keep us alive and thriving. And at the heart of it all is something we don’t see, don’t taste, and often don’t even think about: oxygen. 

Breathing is not just a routine action. It’s life itself. Each breath you take is a gift, feeding every cell with the energy it needs to keep you alive. Yet, so many of us don’t breathe the way our body is designed to. For years, I was guilty of shallow breathing, not realizing how much my body was missing. 

What Happens in Your Body When You Breathe? 

When you inhale, oxygen enters your lungs and passes into your blood. From there, it travels to every tissue and organ. This oxygen is essential for your cells to “burn” carbohydrates and fats from food, creating energy for all of life’s functions. 

When you exhale, you release carbon dioxide — a waste product of this energy-making process. Without this exchange, your organs and tissues couldn’t function. 

Proper breathing also: 

• Regulates the body’s pH by releasing carbon dioxide. 

• Protects the lungs by filtering, warming, and moisturizing the air. 

• Provides a constant flow of oxygen to your brain, heart, and muscles.

   

Are You Breathing Correctly? 

Here’s something surprising: many of us are not! 
When you inhale, your diaphragm should expand like a balloon, and when you exhale, it should flatten. This deep belly breathing allows your lungs to fill and empty fully. If your shoulders rise and fall instead of your diaphragm, you may be breathing shallowly, and you’re not alone. 

But the good news? You can retrain yourself. Even just a few minutes a day of conscious, deep breathing can make a huge difference for your body, mind, and spirit. 

Oxygen in Food – Not Just the Air You Breathe 

Oxygen doesn’t only come from the air. Certain foods support your body’s oxygen supply: 

• Leafy greens such as spinach and kale are rich in iron and nitrates. Iron helps create healthy red blood cells that carry oxygen, while nitrates improve circulation and blood flow. 

• Chlorophyll, the pigment that makes plants green, is similar in structure to hemoglobin in our blood and is believed to help oxygenation and vitality. 

• Eating nutrient-dense whole foods(instead of heavily processed ones) gives your cells what they need to do their job — transport oxygen, remove waste, and keep you energized. 

This means that every meal and every breath are opportunities to nourish your body with the life it deserves. 

Simple Steps to Breathe Better and Live Better 

• Take a short walk outside and focus on slow, deep breaths. 

• Practice diaphragmatic breathing: put one hand on your belly and feel it rise as you inhale, fall as you exhale. 

• Fill your plate with leafy greens and whole foods that strengthen your oxygen transport system. 

• Drink plenty of water — your cells need it to carry oxygen efficiently. 

These are not complicated or expensive habits. They are small, powerful choices that remind your body: I am cared for, I am alive, I am thriving. 

Tell me… 
Did you know how important proper breathing is for your body? 
Do you think you’ve been breathing correctly? 
What do you do to support your body with the oxygen it needs? 

Share your thoughts with me — I love hearing how you care for your marvelous house, YOUR BODY. 💚