Breath

A Book Review

Title: Breath - The New Science of a Lost Art
Author: James Nestor
Year: 2020
Pages: 230

There is so much health and wellness advice in the public domain that sorting through it can be daunting. Most of the time this barrage of information leads to confusion. Confusion often becomes paralysis. Paralysis leads to avoidance on taking action that could lead to helpful behaviors.

Change takes effort and the changes outlined in this book are extremely important. So, buckle up and be ready to challenge yourself. In the area of health and wellness, I am going to simplify the starting line for you. You won’t have to wonder what the most important step is for better health and wellness. If you read this review and take action, SWEET! If you read this review, then read the book, then take action, even better.

James Nestor is an investigative journalist who does his homework and does it thoroughly. He writes clearly and engagingly about science-y things like…Breathing!

Now how can a man write an entire book about breathing when it seems pretty simple? Inhale followed by an exhale, right? Just unlike walking, right foot, left foot, there are better ways to breathe and taking the time to practice breathing is foundational! There are right ways and wrong ways to perform something you have been doing subconsciously your entire life.

Practice breathing?

Yes, and Nestor details how, when, and why.

What makes this book so engaging?

Nestor's self experimentation! It borders on being comical at times. The fact that he has taken himself as the subject of his own investigation, due to his breathing problems, gives the book a very real quality. This is not dry science writing. This is an adventure story with breathing as the pursuit.

Nestor details the connection between mind and body and debunks some of the current thinking in the world of physiology, how the human body works, while he is at it.

A few examples:

-Your nose is for breathing. Your mouth is for chewing and talking. (to Mrs. Swaim’s chagrin, I tend to chew and talk at the same time!)

Mouth breathing leads to cognitive decline. In the young, mouth breathing can reveal a future of cognitive struggles.

-Our facial bones and muscles atrophy over time. This is largely due to the soft foods we have been eating our entire lives. Think about the last time you had to chew something for more than a few chomps. This softening of the facial structures can lead to all types of dysfunction that we often mistake for getting old. Like droopy eyes and possibly sleep apnea. Nestor does provide a remedy for sleep apnea in the book!

-The role of CO2 in the blood stream and why having more of it, not less, is crucial for health. The physiology makes so much sense when he explains it. More CO2, not less. Fascinating.

Who should read this book?

Anyone looking for a starting point to better health and wellness.

Not a reader?

Implement this one thing, one thing, and you will benefit.

Put your tongue on the roof of your mouth, lightly touch your teeth together, and breathe through your nose. Train yourself to do this! While driving or watching TV or reading or exercising. The longer the better until this becomes a subconscious habit. Extra credit if you exhale longer than inhale. This will increase your CO2 levels and as I said above, you will benefit greatly. Stop gasping for and start trapping CO2. More Oxygen gets released for cells to use for energy as a result.

Want a few more easy steps?

A second easy habit to perform is humming for 5 minutes a day through your nose. Nestor calls humming “nose songs” which I found delightful. Pick a song and go at it. The more the better.  Nitric oxide, produced naturally in the body, is a strong assistant to the cardiovascular system. Nitric oxide increases dramatically when you hum. No wonder people who are habitual hummers tend to live longer. My father-in-law hums all of the time and he’s about to turn 96; still very active and alert!

A third thing is to chew gum to strengthen the facial muscles. Nestor recommends a Turkish brand, Falim. We bought some and have used it daily for at least an hour. It's like shoe leather but with a hint of mint. Try chewing with your mouth closed. Note, if my face looks stronger in the office, there is a good reason.   

This book deserves a read if you want to take your health and wellness up a notch. There is a lot here to learn.

Start by trying the three things above.

If you want clarity, just ask.  

Cheers,

Dr. Swaim

Order Book Here

Image by Hannah Williams from Pixabay