All life on earth is based on 5 basic elements: sulfur, nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen. Amongst these, the element that is most abundant is oxygen. Oxygen makes up about 65% of the human body, 47% of dry soil, 46% of igneous rocks, 85% of sea water, 42% of all the vegetation, and 50% of the crust of the earth by weight. Odorless, tasteless, and colorless, oxygen is one of the most important substances without which life would not be able to exist. For example, we can go without food for a number of weeks and survive, we can even go without water for 3-7 days, but we cannot survive without oxygen beyond 5 minutes. Given the importance of this ‘breath of life’ here are some interesting facts about oxygen.
- Oxygen provides us with 90% of our nutritional energy, with just 10% coming from the food we eat. The more our cells are saturated with stabilized oxygen the lower is the wear and tear that occurs in the body. Hence, oxygen is one of the most important anti-aging substances.
- Oxygen’s natural ability to oxidize or catabolize viruses, fungi, and bacteria is vitally important in order to sustain the cells’ natural immortality factor and to prevent degenerative diseases.
- Oxygen is also an essential factor for burning up the body’s toxins – those that are generated by us internally as well as those that we get from external sources such as the environment, water, and food – particularly junk food. The lower the content of oxygen, the less ability we have to burn up toxins, to heal, and to fight disease.
- In fact, diseases can actually occur when there is a deficiency of oxygen. Without enough oxygen, cells lose the ability to function properly, which leads to disease setting in. All kinds of diseases are basically linked to oxygen starvation, also known as hypoxia, or low oxygen levels.
- The concentration of oxygen in our blood is about 60-70% on an average, at which level we function well, with average brain activity and energy. However, if the level of oxygen drops lower than 60%, the cells are overwhelmed with pathogens, leading to diseases taking over. The lowest concentration of oxygen required to maintain life is around 52%, however, at this level, one is hardly alive.
- Studies have also revealed that the oxygen levels in the atmosphere was about 36-38% about 200 years back, however when recent measurements were done, it was discovered that at present the earth’s atmosphere just comprises of 19% concentration levels of oxygen. In some areas that are heavily industrialized, which have high levels of pollution, the oxygen level is often as low as 9%.
- The level of oxygen in the earth’s atmosphere has been seriously depleted due to various factors, such as: the industrial revolution; the carbon-based fuels we use; and the depletion of large tracts of oxygen generating forest areas. According to scientific studies, it has been shown that the concentration level of oxygen in the atmosphere is being depleted by 0.8% about every fifteen years or thereabouts.
- It is quite evident why it is essential to keep our body oxygenated. Oxygen is the sole element that has the capability of combining with practically all other elements in order to form the essential ingredients that are required for building and maintaining our body. For instance: water is made up of oxygen and hydrogen; carbohydrates are made up of oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon; proteins are made up of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, and nitrogen.
The list of crucial roles played by oxygen is quite endless. It is necessary for oxidization, or combustion, and also acts as a preserver, sanitizer, deodorizer, and disinfectant. Our cells are energized by oxygen, which helps them to regenerate. Oxygen regulates all the functions of the body. Our ability to talk, sleep, eat, move, feel, and think are all dependent on the energy that is generated by oxygen. Our body uses oxygen for the metabolism of food and the elimination of waste and toxins via oxidation. Oxygen is used by the brain to process information….