The average person breathes in the equivalent of 13 pints of air every minute and takes 17,000 breaths per day. “Breathing Air” is actually not a good description of what happens when we breathe. Air is made up of almost 79% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and small amounts of elements like helium, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen.
Inhaled air is made up of 16% oxygen, 4% carbon dioxide, and the same 79% nitrogen. Our lungs swap around 4-5% oxygen for carbon dioxide. Our lungs exhale almost half a litre (0.42 L) of water every single day. Factor this number into your hydration requirements. Most people can hold their breath for a maximum of 1-2 minutes but in 2010 Stig Severinsen from Denmark held his breath during a free dive for 22 minutes. That’s the power of controlled breathing.
infographic by: www.thebreatheffect.com
