You can improve your oxygen intake in a number of ways: deeper breathing methods, exposure to fresh air, as well as frequent aerobic exercise, to name a few methods. In addition to these physical changes we can make, there are some nutritional factors worth considering:
The best diet for oxygen production is comprised entirely of raw foods. Here at Varta Nutrition, we recommend filling your diet with fruits, vegetables, and legumes, specifically dark leafy greens and sprouted nuts and seeds. These foods will help increase maximum oxygen levels in your body. The green color in these vegetables comes from chlorophyll which resembles the atomic structure of human blood (chlorophyll has a magnesium atom where human blood has an iron atom). The enzymes that are found in the raw food help convert the magnesium atom to iron, making blood that can transport oxygen for our use. Raw foods also contain antioxidants (e.g. vitamin A, C, E and CoQ10). Antioxidants allow the body to use oxygen more efficiently by helping regulate the rate at which oxygen is injected into the bloodstream. Choosing darker-colored plant foods like algae, blueberries, strawberries, kidney beans, blackberries, artichokes, cranberries, and plums can be a good way to add antioxidants into your diet.
Consuming essential fatty acids like vitamin F increases the amount of oxygen hemoglobin in the bloodstream can carry. The body cannot produce the essential fatty acids linoleic acid and alpha-linoleic acid, so you need to eat foods that contain these fatty-acids regularly. Some example sources of linoleic acid are sunflower oil, canola oil, and safflower oil. Good sources of alpha-linoleic acid include soybeans, walnuts, and flaxseeds.
| Maximize Your Oxygen Levels | Add Antioxidants | Consume Fatty Acids |
|---|---|---|
| Fruits | Blueberries | Sunflower Oil |
| Vegetables | Strawberries | Canola Oil |
| Dark Leafy Greens | Kidney Beans | Safflower Oil |
| Kale | Blackberries | Soybeans |
| Broccoli | Artichokes | Walnuts |
| Cauliflower | Cranberries | Flaxseeds |
| Plums |
Lastly, one of the best things you can do to maintain maximal oxygen uptake (as well as keep your body healthy in general) is to avoid the use of alcohol and other recreational drugs. The process of metabolizing and removing these poisons from the body negatively impact the oxygen levels in the blood, therefore reducing one’s overall ability to resupply the body with oxygen.
While here at Varta Nutrition we recommend you continue (or maybe even increase) your regular aerobic activity to keep your cardiovascular system in check, including some of the aforementioned foods in your diet will supplement your exercise and keep you running strong.
