Bhubaneswar: In the resurgence of COVID-19 cases, the country has been struggling with the unavailability of oxygen. Several people requesting oxygen refills and oxygen cylinders for their friends and family. However, many people are in-home quarantine and are treating and monitoring oxygen level, here are some ways through which the oxygen levels can be improved:
Get fresh air
Open your windows and go outside. Fresh air will provide you with energy and bring additional amounts of oxygen to the lungs.
Drink water
In order to oxygenate and expel carbon dioxide, our lungs need to be hydrated, and drinking enough water, therefore, influences oxygen levels. We lose on average about 400 milliliters of water per day.
Eat iron-rich foods
Certain foods can help improve the oxygen levels in your blood. Iron is a mineral needed for our red blood cells, the cells that transport blood around the body. That is why we can be tired and exhausted if we lack iron. Great sources of iron-rich foods are green leafy vegetables like kale and broccoli, fruits such as apples, legumes, and lean proteins such as eggs, poultry, and fish.
Exercise
The better we are at obtaining and utilizing oxygen, the more energy our cells are able to produce. Increased oxygen utilization will, therefore, strengthen our endurance.
There is a clear correlation between performance and the amount of oxygen we breathe in. This is measured in VO2 max, maximal oxygen uptake. The higher the VO2, the greater endurance. Interval and sprint training are the best training methods to increase the oxygen level.
Train your breathing
Exercise alone is not enough if you want to improve the quality of your breathing since training provides no guarantee that you are actually utilizing the capacity of your lungs and oxygen uptake. Breathing is, however, vital in order to increase our oxygen level.
Slow and deep breathing increases the level of oxygen in our blood. Oxygen is transported to the blood within the body through the respiratory system and that is why it influences your oxygen level if your breathing is not optimal.
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