We tend to forget about the importance of fresh air for our overall wellbeing. I realized that last weekend which I spent in my hometown which is significantly smaller than the city I live in. It was the first time in a while that I noticed a difference in the air around me when I stepped outside. It felt so good breathing in the fresh countryside air and letting go of all the carbon dioxide I ingest daily living in the city. So, why is air such a key element for our organisms, apart from the fact that we need it to stay alive? The benefits are numerous and most of them are quite intuitive, just probably never thought of thoroughly before, or at least not enough. So, let’s talk about some of the benefits of breathing quality air.
Immune system and lungs
Let’s start from the most obvious reasons fresh air is good for us. White blood cells have a key role in our body. They help fight all sorts of bad bacteria and germs and in order to do that, they need to have optimal oxygen levels. Not to mention that fresh air improves the cleansing effect in your lungs, as well as the amount of toxins being released during exhaling. Clean air also affects our hormones. Serotonin levels are affected by the amount of oxygen we inhale. Consequently, the better the air, the happier we are, as serotonin is the hormone of happiness.
Sharpness of the mind
We often feel exhausted and find it hard to focus indoors while working or studying. This is often followed by headaches and mood swings. Would you believe that all of these symptoms are often caused by a lack of fresh air? This is why you might consider getting yourself a high-quality air purifier for mold as mold is one of the main reasons for poor air indoors. By having fresh air inside your office or study, you’ll be able to think more clearly and be much more productive than usual.
Blood pressure and heart rate
Fresh air and sufficient amounts of oxygen are vital for the proper functioning of your heart. This is why people with high blood pressure and heart issues shouldn’t live in a polluted area. Once your blood vessels fail to receive enough oxygen, it puts pressure on your heart to pump harder than usual. Needless to say, this is putting additional strain on your organism and it’s bad for everyone, especially people with heart disease.
Less stress
It appears that we really should stop and smell the roses. It is a known scientific fact that some flowers lower stress and anxiety and they actually put us in a good mood. The smells of some flowers not only affect our senses, but their effects are deeper than we imagined. Roses help the organism relax, while jasmine and lavender make us feel calm. You can try and see for yourself. When you’re feeling stressed out, try smelling lavender for a few minutes, take deep breaths and relax. You’ll see that it actually helps.
Energizing
Do you ever wonder why it’s easier to exercise outside than inside a gym? It’s because fresh air increases our energy levels. Research shows that spending time outdoors breathing fresh air can increase the energy in 9 out of 10 people. We often make a mistake by taking energy drinks and endless coffees, but they don’t give us real energy. They just increase our heart rate and give us a fake feeling of freshness. That is why it’s much better to take a walk or open our window when we feel tired and unwilling to work instead of ingesting all sorts of toxic food or drink.
The quality of the air we breathe is directly proportional to the quality of our lives. This is why we need to constantly be reminded of how important fresh air actually is. Under no circumstances should we take nature for granted as it gives us the essential elements required to sustain life. So, every time you feel under the weather, take a deep breath and think about the air you breathe. Be mindful and thankful and focus solely on your breathing. Doing this will calm you down, lower your stress levels and make you feel energized and motivated again.