Do you snore? Keep reading!
When it comes to HEART health, both nutrition and breathwork are vital components to achieving desired health expression. I teach breathing exercises to sufferers of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) because OSA is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.
I am passionate about helping individuals make better choices inside an Eating for Health model, the brainchild of Dr Ed Bauman. I love the philosophy of eating for health, not dieting, but instead finding a significantly better way to think about food as the building blocks for our mood, body composition, energy levels, and so much more! All my plans are based on the client's cultural preferences, budget and personal taste.
When it comes to HEART health, both nutrition and breathwork are vital components to achieving desired health expression.
I teach breathing exercises to sufferers of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) because OSA is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.
"Changing an OSA sufferer's breathing behaviour is probably, by far, the most important behavioural change that can improve their cardiovascular health and stop their snoring and/or OSA." - Dr. Alan Ruth BSc PhD
Why does breathing matter? In 1978, Professor Robert Furchgott discovered an essential compound in the endothelial cells that relaxed blood vessels. He named it endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF). Some years later, he determined that EDRF was, in fact, nitric oxide (NO).
In 1998, he and two other researchers were awarded a Nobel Prize for their discoveries; their findings were that nitric oxide is a signalling molecule in the cardiovascular system. It is now known that NO acts as a regulator of blood pressure and blood flow to different organs. When the endothelium dilation of the arteries produces NO, nitric oxide controls blood pressure. It also prevents the formation of blood clots.
In 1995, Dr. Jon Lundberg discovered that the paranasal sinuses are potent producers of NO. Breathing through the nose creates HIGH concentrations of NO, which increases arterial oxygenation - mouth breathing does not have the same effect on the arteries.
A review of the literature reveals that NO:
âž¡ It is a primary regulator of blood pressure
âž¡ It prevents the formation of potentially dangerous blood clots
âž¡ It prevents the muscle cells in artery walls from multiplying and thickening (a factor in atherosclerosis)
âž¡ Protects the endothelium by preventing the adhesion of substances that initiate atherosclerosis
âž¡ It is a potent vasodilator - it increases blood flow and reduces the amount of work the heart does
âž¡ Lessens the oxygen requirements of the myocardium and relieves angina
Do you want to learn more about how you can improve your sleep apnea through breathwork?
I would love to be on your team!
Get in touch for a free discovery call.
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Kristen Moss
Nutrition Consultant & Lifestyle Coach
Mother of two
Global citizen