Summary of Patrick McKeown's The Oxygen Advantage

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Book Preview: #1 Don, who was director of European operations in a leading American technology firm, had tried many things before, but he had never considered the relationship between physical capacity and correct breathing. He began practicing the exercises I gave him, and within days he felt better and had greater energy than ever before. #2 Many athletes adopt the practice of taking deep breaths during rest and training, but this actually limits their performance. By breathing healthy amounts of air during resting periods, we ensure that the right amount of oxygen is powering our muscles, lungs, and heart. #3 The respiratory system is the part of the body that delivers oxygen from the atmosphere to your cells and tissues and transports the carbon dioxide produced in your tissues back into the atmosphere. The lungs contain approximately 300 million alveoli, each of which is surrounded by tiny blood vessels called capillaries. #4 The idea of taking bigger breaths to take in more oxygen is similar to telling an individual who is already eating enough food to provide their daily caloric needs that they need to eat more. Many have a hard time grasping this.