Most of us think about eating right, drinking enough water and getting enough sleep to stay fit. Hardly anyone thinks about the air they breathe when they’re out playing or just jogging. But air is the one thing we take into our bodies more than anything else — far more than food or water. And if the air is polluted and not fresh, it leaves a big impact on how we feel and how we perform in sports.

So instead of helping us, the air starts to make us weaker every time we step outside to train or play. This is not some distant problem. In most big cities today, the air carries far more than just oxygen. It carries dust, smoke, exhaust fumes and chemicals that are slowly making their way into our bodies. And if you are an active person, this affects you more than you might think.

Breathing harder, taking in more junk

You may not realise it, but when you sit quietly, you take small, slow breaths. The moment you start running or playing, your breathing speed almost doubles. Even when you are only walking, your breathing is more rapid than when you are sitting peacefully. That means you’re pulling in huge gulps of air to get more oxygen to your muscles.

So when the air is not clean — with dust, smoke from cars and all kinds of invisible particles floating around — with every deep breath, you’re pulling that gunk straight into your lungs. The hair in our nostrils blocks some of it, but a lot still goes straight through. Instead of inhaling pure oxygen, you’re inhaling a cocktail of pollutants. Not exactly the health boost you........

© Dawn Young Magazine