Nasal Breathing

While we often take breathing for granted due to the simple fact that it’s instinctual, unconscious even, the breath is a powerful tool and the great secret of life for several reasons.

When it comes to nasal breathing specifically, research has shown that breathing from the nose elicits healthier internal responses and a better ability to inhale air. This, as we’ll discuss, is beneficial not only to our health but to our well-being.

If you’re currently a mouth breather, you may be at greater risk of health complications. With that said, you may want to consider being more intentional and aware of your breath, focusing on nasal breathing while you inhale and exhale through your mouth.

In what follows, we’ll discuss several advantages of nasal breathing and why YOU should consider it as your primary approach to the breath. Even if it doesn’t become a habitual practice, nasal breathing as a meditative implementation can also stimulate several health benefits.

Let’s get into it, shall we?

What is Nasal Breathing?

At its most basic, there are two ways to breathe; through the nose and through the mouth. While both function through the same biological mechanism involving the throat and lungs, each come with their own distinct differences.

Nasal breathing, as the name suggests, is the function of inhaling and exhaling through the nose. In contrast, mouth breathing is the function of inhaling and exhaling through the mouth.

The reason, however, that nasal breathing is encouraged is because of the fact that our noses were primarily designed to allow for safe and effective inhalation and exhalation of the air which we breathe.

As a mechanism, the nose acts as a biological filtration system, preventing foreign bacteria to enter our lungs. Moreover, it also acts as a biological humidifier of the air that we breathe, allowing for smooth airways. Lastly, the nose as a mechanism expands our blood vessels, thus improving the circulation of oxygen in our bodies. While mouth breathing has its own responsibilities and necessities, its primary function, though secondary, is not optimal breathing.

Benefits of Nasal Breathing

As mentioned above, the nose has several advantages to the mouth when it comes to breathing.

While we’ve already mentioned a few, below is an abundant list of the many advantages and the most common benefits of nasal breathing:

• Improves airflow
• Increases oxygen uptake
• Improves blood circulation
• Reduces heart rate
• Strengthens lung capacity
• Reduces the risk of future health complications
• Boosts immunity
• Humidification of oxygen
• Reduces exposure to bacteria and foreign agents

Nasal breathing can and should be implemented as a habit for the primary way in which you breathe on a day-to-day basis.

If this is not achievable for any reason, nasal breathing is also an effective method during yoga, meditation, and other exercises in order to elicit certain beneficial stimuli.

After all, nasal breathing is, in fact, the great secret of life.

Disadvantages of Mouth Breathing

It’s important to note that there’s a time and place for mouth breathing. After all, mouth breathing isn’t inherently bad for your health.

With that said, breathing through the mouth isn’t the primary function of the mouth and shouldn’t be treated as such. There are several disadvantages of excessively breathing through your mouth. Below are some of the most common:

• Can result in dry mouth
• Increases risk of snoring
• Associated with insomnia
• Associated with an uptick of allergies
• May result in asthma
• May cause excessive coughing
• May result in bad breath

The primary function of the mouth is eating, drinking, and talking. Similarly, the primary function of the nose is to breathe effectively, efficiently, and safely. As such, both should be used accordingly.

If you want to unlock the powerful benefits of breathing, you need to consider nasal breathing. It’s a naive approach to ignore the breath simply because it’s an inherent and unconscious act. By bringing awareness and intention to one’s breathing, one can begin to experience life in a new light.

Final Thoughts

The powerful benefits that nasal breathing has on one’s health and well-being are undeniable, especially in comparison to mouth breathing. If you want to begin to implement nasal breathing into your daily life and begin to make it a habit, try starting to apply breathing exercises to train yourself. Consider alternating nostril and belly breathing as a practice, and to challenge yourself, implement nasal breathing during rigorous exercise.

Nasal breathing is the great secret of life and is something people should consider as a health and wellness regimen going forward.

“Breathing is the greatest pleasure of life.”