Something you may or may not be aware of is the fascinating field of oxygen therapy that has emerged over the last few decades. Why is it gaining momentum in the health world? While the therapies come in many forms, they all come back to one guiding principle: oxygen kills disease. How can they hold up this bold claim? We know for a fact that most of the harmful organisms in our bodies (many types of viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc) are anaerobic- that is, they don’t breathe oxygen. In fact, oxygen completely kills them off! On the other hand, we’ve found out that many of the beneficial organisms in our bodies actually thrive on oxygen…aerobic organisms. Through our conscious intake of oxygen, we’re actually able to help determine the internal environment of our own bodies, which is where all the action really takes place.

But where do we take this information from here? Do we breathe more deeply? Do we need to get ozone treatments? In fact, oxygen can be derived in a large number of ways, and we can also enhance our ability to absorb the oxygen already available to us. Dramatically improving our health through higher oxygenation doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult in the least if we can take the time to learn more about the process and its roles in the body. The first major point is the one mentioned above, being that oxygen kills off harmful organisms in the body, while allowing beneficial ones to thrive. This alone has huge implications, seeing as anaerobic organisms are responsible for a great deal of the disease and illness we’re seeing more and more of every day!

Another point that really doesn’t get the attention it deserves is the correlation between oxygen and energy levels. It has been said that up to 90% of our energy comes from oxygen! While many take energy for granted or assume it comes only from what we eat or drink, oxygen is in fact our main source of energy. The oxygen we take in allows our minds to function at peak performance, in turn benefiting every bodily process controlled by the powerhouse that is the human mind. In other words, when the brain has access to more oxygen, it can do its job better- and that means it’s better able to build and maintain a strong, healthy, vital body.

At A Glance: Reasons To Up Your Oxygen Intake

–> Increased Energy, Stamina & Endurance
–> Increased Nutrient Uptake (Getting In Vitamins, Minerals, Etc)
–> Better Sleep & Stronger Immune System
–> Enhanced Learning & Concentration
–> Improved Memory & Brain Function
–> Accelerated Healing & Recovery Of The Body
–> Stronger Heart Muscles & Lower Blood Pressure
–> Better Circulation
–> Internal Cleansing Of Toxins & Anaerobic Organisms

The list of benefits can be astounding for something so simple that we often take for granted! Unlike activites such as exercising and stretching, which we consciously choose to do, oxygen is an automatic part of the health equation; we’re always taking in oxygen through breathing and other means, but it’s up to us to take control of that process and get the results we’re after. So we’re back to the question posed earlier: how can we increase the level of oxygen in our bodies?

As it turns out, all exercise increases the flow of oxygen to the brain. That’s one of the main reasons to maintain a consistent, weekly exercise routine- even if it’s just minutes a day, the benefits can be enormous…it’s not all about building muscle! All forms of exercise including yoga, weight training, running, kayaking, and even playfully chasing after the family pet can provide the benefits of oxygenation at some level. Part of the reason for this is the deep breathing caused by exercise, which of course moves more oxygen through the system. This statement reveals yet another way to get more oxygen: deep breathing. By changing from the habit of short, shallow breaths to taking longer, deeper breaths we can completely change our oxygen intake in seconds. Note that both exercise and deep breathing are completely free and take very little time out of our days (we breathe anyway!). These are two great ways to realize the benefits of higher oxygenation.

Exercise and deep breathing aren’t the only ways, however; you may recall the oxygen therapy mentioned at the start of this page. Oxygen therapy is the process of using oxygen in a therapeutic way to help foster good health in the body. While many people have found success in turning to oxygen therapies for healing ailments and disease, even the healthiest of people can benefit as well. For those interested, there are many methods to be explored and certainly some will work for some people, while not for others- it all comes down to what you’re comfortable with and what makes sense to you. Either way, it’s a fascinating field to look into, and certainly for further investigation into this vital aspect of health.

One last thing to be aware of, relating to oxygen, is that not all air is created equal! It’s common sense that the more toxins and pollutants there are in the air, the more work our body has to do to process and eliminate those toxins. The easiest way to maintain radiant health and vitality is to breathe in the highest quality air possible as much as possible. Any wooded area is a great place to be in, even if just for a brief hike, walk or jog; this is mainly because the trees themselves give off more oxygen, but also because these areas are naturally less polluted than the surrounding communities and cities. Trips to the beach and the mountains are also great for getting some oxygen into the system, and it really is fascinating how we tend to do these things instinctively. In short: breathe the best quality air possible and increase the level of oxygen in your body to start seeing some real changes in your life!

Unleash Your Vitality,

– John Brackett

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Over the last two weeks together, we’ve explored two of the most critical aspects of longevity and anti-aging: having a reason to live (with your close relationships, purpose and passion in life) and eating a healthy, balanced diet full of bright, colorful fruits and vegetables (with all kinds of nutrients that help keep you and your skin looking young and vibrant). One of the most well-known success principles is the 80/20 principle – the principle being that 80% of your results stem from just 20% of your actions – clearly making those actions the most effective ones available to you. When you take this to heart and start looking for those 20% of activities that lead to 80%+ of your results, you start seeing results…period.

What single practice do you think could lead to massive results in health, fitness and energy levels – with very little time commitment?

…Exercise! Specifically, weight lifting and resistance training.

Here’s one of the key longevity tie-ins: bone mass and development. One of the key concerns that comes with aging is the breakdown of bone strength and durability, leading to potential fractures and injuries. Weight training is one of the most effective ways to keep your bone strength and development up in a healthy, active range – for life. Besides that, you’ll be working on muscle strength and development at the same time. The combination of muscle and bone strength and development is what allows us to remain active and youthful. It could be moving heavy rocks while gardening, taking a nature hike, or fueling a vigorous 7-day kayaking adventure. Whatever you’re up to in life, you want to focus on the small number of effective actions that can give you the results you’re looking for.

If  you’ve been reading for some time, you may remember our discussion on HGH and cortisol levels in the body. What this really came down to was that a vigorous, 20-something-minute workout was enough to dramatically increase the body’s production of Human Growth Hormone, often dubbed the “master hormone” of the human body – responsible for growth, maintenance and a host of other responsibilities. This means more muscle strength and development, less bodyfat, more balanced hormones, stronger libido and even a higher outlook on life (Landmark Study by L. Cass Terry, M.D., Ph.D. and Edmund Chein, M.D.).

Here’s one more key question: What story are you telling yourself about why you can’t be weight training every week?

For some, the story may be “I’m too overweight or out of shape”, “I’m too old”, “I don’t know how”, or even “I’d be too embarrassed going to the gym”. Others might claim the story of “I can’t afford it”. Truth be told, I’m not currently holding a gym membership myself. I workout with dumbbells and barbells in the exercise corner of the basement – or go old-school with pullups and pushups, tried-and-true classics. But you know what? It works. Whatever story you think is valid, really start to question what comes up in your mind. You’ll know if it’s a temporary, legitimate reason you shouldn’t be weight training or whether it’s an excuse – or chain of excuses. I’m just here to break that story apart for you and get you working out, so you can live the longevity lifestyle by my side; may we all be laughing about life together in our 120’s ;)

Unleash Your Vitality,

John Brackett

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You guessed it: it’s that time of year again (for those of us here in the US). December, when things start getting a little colder outside and we find ourselves spending more and more of our time inside. There’s no problem with this in and of itself, but it does mean that we need to find more ways to start getting active, keeping up both our personal energy levels and our immune systems. The best way? Get moving! Here are 3 quick reasons to start getting in motion with a new personal fitness ritual or routine:

3) Longevity & Vitality

Multiple long-term studies have shown that those who exercise and enjoy an active lifestyle can expect to live a few more healthier years than their less-active peers (one study averages at about 3.5 extra years). How much would you treasure those few extra years of life? The ability to enjoy quality time with your grandchildren and pursue your passions? It’s absolutely worth it, but that may only motivate the long-term thinkers out there. Here are the other 2 reasons, with much more tangible effects:

2) Never Getting Sick

What I mean here is that exercise is the “pump” for our lymph system. Vigorous exercise and deep breathing stimulates lymph flow, which moves out all the toxins, viruses, etc; challenging workouts literally pump out the garbage from our bodies! Note that it comes out in many different ways, including your sweat – which is the #1 reason on the list of why to shower after a workout ;) Regular exercise dramatically enhances your immune system and gets your lymph system up and running, so you’ll definitely want to stay active this winter!

1) Mental Clarity & Energy

My personal #1 reason to exercise is the extraordinary mental clarity that comes immediately with any vigorous, stimulating workout. A 30-45 minute workout at the gym will do it for sure, but you can get the “mental clarity” effect dramatically in 2 minutes or less. Here’s how: jumping rope and jumping jacks. The movement of these 2 exercises gets you active, increases your heart rate, stimulates lymph flow and clears your “mental fog” right out of your head in no time. If you’re ever in one of those situations where you wake up in a fog and need some clarity quick, just try these two together (maybe 1 minute of one and 1 minute of the other). You’ll be blown away by the simplicity, but mostly by the effects.

I’ll personally do just these two exercises before sitting down to work at the computer in the morning, and then have an all-out, scheduled workout later in the afternoon. I find that the combination gives me extreme mental clarity and boundless energy all day to get done what I’m really after. For these reasons, mental clarity & energy constitute my #1 reason to exercise today, and sum up the true value of personal fitness.

I hope this will get the gears turning for you and that you’ll consider committing to a regular workout schedule for the wintertime here in the US. It’s a great time of year, and staying healthy, clear and full of energy will only help you to enjoy it more!

Unleash Your Vitality,

John Brackett