Plain English with Derek Thompson cover image

Plain English with Derek Thompson

Breathing Is Easy. But We’re Doing It Wrong.

Jun 14, 2024
Author James Nestor discusses the evolution of breathing, downsides of mouth breathing, benefits of nasal breathing, and specific breath techniques to reduce stress and improve sleep. Topics include human face shrinkage, causal link between mouth breathing and facial changes, power of nasal breathing, benefits of mouth taping for sleep quality, and mastering the art of breathing for overall well-being.
54:52

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Nasal breathing is beneficial for health, while mouth breathing can cause deformities and sleep issues.
  • Breathing techniques like '4-7-8 breathing' and 'box breathing' can reduce stress and improve sleep quality.

Deep dives

The Evolution of Breathing Mechanisms in Humans

Humans evolved from single-celled microorganisms that produced energy by consuming carbon dioxide to early mammals. Over millions of years, human ancestors adapted their facial structures, but recent changes due to industrialization have impacted breathing patterns negatively.

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