Deeper breaths = more oxygen getting to your cells …right?
Nope.
You actually need more carbon dioxide (CO2) to build up with your breaths to get more oxygen circulation…
What?
Brain sensors monitor CO2 levels vs Oxygen (O2).
When levels of CO2 rise beyond a certain level you’re triggered to breathe.
Over breathing aka fast or short breathing decreases CO2 in blood causing less oxygen to get to cells.
Taking slow breaths increases CO2 in blood allowing for more oxygen to cells.
Huh…?
CO2 levels determine how strong oxygen binds to red blood cells.
Higher amounts of CO2 in the blood = more oxygen to cells more of the time!
Strong oxygen binding to red blood cells is what happens when you allow carbon dioxide to build up in the blood stream with breath work.
9 out of 10 humans are over breathing causing fatigue, anxiety and setting themselves up for chronic illness.
How do you know if you’re over breathing?
The BOLT Score will tell you as it scores your response to carbon dioxide levels rising in the blood.
How do you identify your BOLT score?
By taking a normal breath in and out and holding your breath on the exhale.
The amount of seconds you can hold your breath without being triggered to take another breath is your score.
Over 40 seconds is excellent.
Most individuals are under 10 seconds.
Energy increases with each 5 point increase of the BOLT score.
Click HERE to learn more about the BOLT score.
How do you become chronically wired to over breathe?
- Chronic Stress
- How you breathe during physical exercise and activity
- Diet – potential renal acid load (PRAL) – refined grains, sugar, seed oils, fried foods increase acidity in the body; veggies and foods closest to nature lower this – these foods lower blood pH
Over breathing causes you to “blow off” excess CO2 to keep the pH balanced in the body.
Remember the pH balance concept that was popular a few years back where everyone wanted to keep their body in a basic pH?
Maybe you even tested your urine or were drinking Kangen pH balanced water.
Perhaps you tested your pH and became frustrated because you weren’t able to achieve a basic pH.
Sadly, not many of the pH gurus were talking about breathing and it’s connection to pH back then.
Good thing you’re here now!
If you want to have all day energy all breathing is the missing link!
See what your BOLT score is …
…and then get to work on mastering healthy breathing.
On Wednesday I’ll be going through the 4 types of breathing you want to get really good at!
Here’s to better breathing,
Dr. J
