- 90% of our energy comes from oxygen
- The brain uses about three times as much oxygen as muscles in the body do.
- Brain cells are very sensitive to decreases in oxygen levels and don’t survive or function well very long without it.
Here are few things you can do to increase oxygen flow to your brain:
1. Get fresh air
Open your windows and go outside. Walk in the park or along the water. Fresh air will provide you with energy and bring you additional amounts of oxygen to the lungs.
2. Exercise
The better we are at obtaining and utilizing oxygen, the more energy our cells are able to produce. Increased oxygen utilization will, therefore, strengthen our endurance.
3. Train your breathing
A healthy adult takes between 12 and 20 breaths per minute. But we should actually all take a much lower number of breaths – around 6-8 breaths per minute.
Slow and deep breathing increases the level of oxygen in our blood. Oxygen is transported to the blood within the body through the respiratory system and that is why it influences your oxygen level if your breathing is not optimal.
4. Drink water
In order to oxygenate and expel carbon dioxide, our lungs need to be hydrated and drinking enough water, therefore, influences oxygen levels. We lose on average about 400 milliliters of water per day.
5. Eat iron-rich foods
Certain foods can help improve the oxygen levels in your blood. Iron is a mineral needed for our red blood cells, the cells that transport blood around the body. That is why we can be tired and exhausted if we lack iron.
Great sources of iron-rich foods are green leafy vegetables like kale and broccoli, fruits such as apples, legumes, and lean proteins such as eggs, poultry, and fish.
6. Have a cold shower
Exposing yourself to cold can also help you get more blood flowing to your brain. Research shows that even just putting your hand in ice water for one minute can significantly increase the speed of blood flow to the brain.
7. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
HBOT is a noninvasive treatment that involves breathing 100% pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber. With HBOT, your lungs can take in up to 3 times more oxygen than they do when breathing at normal air pressure. The increased oxygen is picked up via the bloodstream and transported to damaged tissues to facilitate the healing process.
