FRESH AIR: A NECESSITY FOR GOOD HEALTH

Air is the most essential element needed to sustain life. The strength of the body system is to a great extent, dependent upon the amount of pure, fresh air that the body receives. Cells in the body begin to die if they don’t receive adequate good, neat and pure air.

Fresh air is chemically different than the re-circulated indoor air that most people breathe.  

Fresh air cannot be found everywhere outdoors. Fresh, clean air is at a premium especially in large cities where factories operate day and night spewing smoke and noxious particles into the air. For these people, getting away from where they live will bring their bodies the benefits of fresh air.

Fresh air revitalizes our minds and bodies but unfortunately, most of us don't get the optimal amount of fresh air needed.  When air is breathed several times a day, as when many people are in a confined area, the air loses its vitality, and impurities may be breathed in again and again.So when you spend most of your time inside the air conditioned office or home, you are forcing your body to use stale air. By doing so you are making it harder for your body to stay healthy. Our work places, home, and sleeping areas should be well ventilated with fresh air.

Exercises performed outdoors in fresh air offer increased aerobic benefits which includes improved breathing technique and increased stamina. More oxygen to the muscles reduces the buildup of lactic acid in the muscles which may lead to cramping.

WHAT IS IT EXACTLY ABOUT FRESH AIR THAT MAKES IT SO IMPORTANT?

Well there’s a whole lot; the physical and mental benefits are vast and important. Below are few benefits of NEAT, FRESH, and PURE AIR to the human body system:

ü Good for quick and easy digestion

ü Improves blood pressure and heart rate

ü Strengthen the immune system

ü It makes you happier

ü Helps to produce more energy

ü Improves the brain for a sharper mind and better concentration

ü Helps you sleep more soundly at night

ü Clean out the lungs and helps the body get rid of accumulation impurities

FRESH AIR IS GOOD FOR DIGESTION

Fresh air helps you to digest food more effectively; so taking a small walk outside after you eat will be a great thing to do.

CONTROLS BLOOD PRESSURE AND HEART RATE

As fresh air has more oxygen it helps in controlling blood pressure and the heart rate.  It provides a calming effect on the body.

STRENGTHENS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

White blood cells kill and fight bacteria and germs. They need enough oxygen to work and function properly. So going on a stroll can actually boost the immune system because of exposure to fresh air. A study showed that people who walked briskly for 30 to 45 minutes a day, five days a week had fewer illnesses than other people who opted for a sedentary lifestyle

FRESH AIR MAKES YOU HAPPIER

The amount of serotonin is affected by the amount of oxygen you inhale. Serotonin can significantly lighten your mood and promote a sense of happiness and well-being.

 MORE ENERGY AND SHARPER MIND

Fresh air helps you to think better and increases your energy level. Your brain needs twenty percent of your body’s oxygen. More oxygen brings greater clarity to the brain, improves your concentration, helps you to think more clearly.

INDUCES SOUND SLEEP
Lack of circulating fresh air in your room may keep you awake.  Fresh air is an essential nutrient to give you a sound sleep.

FRESH AIR CLEANS YOUR LUNGS

Fresh air helps the airways of your lungs to dilate more fully and improves the cleansing action of your lungs by releasing airborne toxins from your body during exhalation
HEALTHIER CELLS
The more oxygen the body makes use of, the healthier the cells of the body will be and thus maintaining proper circulation and overall health.
INCREASES THE REMOVAL OF WASTE FROM THE BLOODSTREAM.
Higher levels of oxygen in the air you breathe help the body in removal of waste from the bloodstream.
STIMULATES THE APPETITE
Not feeling hungry at times?  A short walk in the fresh air before eating may help as fresh air tends to stimulate your appetite.

THE NATURAL FRESHNESS OF AIR IS DESTROYED BY THE FOLLOWING:

ü Tobacco smoke

ü City smog

ü Re-circulating air in building

ü Improper ventilation

ü Exhaust

ü Heaping of dirt close to the busy environment

ü And many other pollutants

Lack of/inadequate fresh, pure neat air sometimes results in lack of Oxygen (O₂) to the brain which may lead to:

ü Fatigue

ü Drowsiness

ü Depression

ü Dullness of mind and irritability

ü Ageing

So if you're feeling any of the above symptoms, if possible, open a window, take a short walk outside.  Ventilate your office or house with fresh air frequently! 

Fresh air produces a healthy mind, clean lungs and a calmer constitution. So, take time to breathe freely the revitalizing and invigorating fresh air created by nature for our benefit.

Contribution from:

-Jennifer Onyiah.