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| Tue, 08-23-2005 - 3:59pm |
The payoffs of breathing properly are big: your heart rate and blood pressure drop, you're able to combat anxiety and pain, and more essential oxygen reaches every part of your body. One 29-year-long study even found that pulmonary function is one of the best predictors of how long you'll live. In other words, breathe well, live well.
Make like a baby "Most people expand their chest without breathing into their belly when they inhale, which is inefficient and fatiguing," notes Maxine Munro, a certified yoga instructor and occupational therapist in Halifax. "Babies do it right." Here is her three-step breathing method:
Take a deep one You may want to give that belly breathing a try at lunch and between 4 and 5 p.m. Researchers at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, N.Y., found that our lung function changes throughout the day, according to the same 24-hour body clock that regulates sleep and metabolism. Lung function is at its lowest at noon (so it can't hurt to take a few good breaths for a pick-me-up) and highest in the late afternoon (so take a few more good deep breaths to maximize that peak). If you use asthma medication, it might be most beneficial to take it at midday, says Dr. Boris Medarov, lead researcher of the study.
Feed your lungs Preliminary research suggests that antioxidants, found in colourful fruit and veggies as well as beans and red wine, may help protect and repair lung function. And while you're dining on all that good stuff, you could shed excess pounds that contribute to shortness of breath. A joint study conducted by the University of Ottawa, The Ottawa Hospital and the Ottawa Health Research Institute found that women who lost the most weight during the study also showed the most improvement in lung function. Why? Extra pounds make your respiratory muscles work harder and less efficiently.
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http://www.chatelaine.com/health/article.jsp?content=20050906_122015_5916&page=1



Moderation IS Key
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