Oxygen vs. Carbon Dioxide: Rethinking What’s Good for the Body

By Dmitry Kaminskiy 

Co-authored with Dr. Arkadi F. Prokopov

For decades, we've been taught that oxygen is universally good for us and that carbon dioxide (CO2) is something to be avoided. This belief has permeated medical advice, fitness regimes, and even general health practices. But what if I told you that this common assumption is not only misguided but potentially detrimental to our health and longevity? In our book Deep Breathing: Maintaining Mitochondrial Quality for Healthy Lifespan Extension, co-authored with Dr. Arkadi F. Prokopov, we challenge this deeply ingrained myth, and delve into why CO2 might be just as vital for our health—if not more so—than oxygen.

The Oxygen Myth: Not Always What It’s Cracked Up to Be

Oxygen is undeniably essential for life. Our bodies rely on it for cellular respiration, which produces the energy (ATP) necessary to fuel every function, from muscle movement to thought. However, the story of oxygen is not as simple as “more is always better.”

In Deep Breathing, we explore the idea that hyperoxia, or an excess of oxygen in the body, can lead to oxidative stress, which damages cells, accelerates aging, and contributes to diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular conditions, and neurodegenerative disorders. This is where the balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide (CO2) becomes critical.

The Role of Carbon Dioxide: An Overlooked Hero

While oxygen is the element we breathe in most frequently, CO2 often takes a backseat in our health considerations. Yet, CO2 plays a pivotal role in our respiratory and vascular systems. It’s time to rethink its negative reputation.

CO2 is a natural vasodilator, meaning it helps relax and open blood vessels, improving blood flow and nutrient delivery throughout the body. In fact, maintaining a healthy level of CO2 is crucial for proper microcirculation—the blood flow in the smallest vessels like capillaries, which are essential for delivering oxygen and nutrients to our tissues. Low CO2 levels can constrict blood vessels, impairing circulation and leading to a myriad of health issues, including hypertension, chronic fatigue, and muscle cramps.

Moreover, CO2 plays an integral role in regulating our body's acid-base balance and helps to maintain proper pH levels in the blood. By promoting this balance, CO2 allows for the efficient function of enzymes and cellular processes, all of which are critical for long-term health and longevity.

The Widespread Problem of CO2 Deficiency

One of the startling discoveries we highlight in Deep Breathing is the widespread issue of CO2 deficiency in the modern population. Due to our fast-paced lives, shallow breathing, and reliance on quick bursts of oxygen, many of us are unknowingly causing a CO2 deficiency in our bodies. This is exacerbated by poor posture, stress, and a lack of awareness of proper breathing techniques.

As a result, our lungs, which are designed to expel CO2, often fail to expel it at optimal levels, resulting in a body that is deprived of this critical gas. This deficiency leads to:

• Poor circulation and reduced blood flow

• Increased risk of chronic diseases, including heart disease and diabetes

• Impaired mitochondrial function, slowing down the body’s energy production processes

• Respiratory dysfunction, leading to shallow, inefficient breaths

  
  

Optimizing Oxygen and CO2: Breathing for Longevity

So, how do we correct the imbalance of oxygen and CO2 in the body? In Deep Breathing, we outline several practical approaches that focus on breathing techniques that restore optimal levels of CO2 in the body, while also improving the efficiency of oxygen use. These include:

1. Controlled Breathing Techniques: Techniques like diaphragmatic breathing (deep belly breathing) and Nasal Breathing help regulate the levels of both oxygen and CO2. By consciously slowing down the breath and ensuring that the exhalation phase is as long as or longer than the inhalation, we help maintain healthy CO2 levels. This simple practice can drastically improve circulation and overall health.

   
   

2. Breathing in Hypoxic Conditions: In our book, we discuss how hypoxic breathing, which involves brief periods of reduced oxygen levels, can boost the efficiency of both mitochondria and blood vessels, encouraging optimal CO2 levels. This form of controlled stress (also known as hormesis) has been proven to help rejuvenate the body's systems, improving both mitochondrial health and longevity.

   
   

3. CO2 Supplementation: We explore novel techniques for safely increasing CO2 levels in the body, such as through carbonated water or CO2 therapy. These methods help restore balance to the body’s gas exchange systems, enhancing circulation and improving health outcomes.

   
   

4. The Role of Exercise: Exercise, particularly aerobic activities like running, swimming, and cycling, also improves oxygen efficiency and CO2 regulation. During physical activity, our body adapts by optimizing its ability to balance these gases, leading to better endurance, enhanced mitochondrial function, and improved healthspan.

   
   

The Future of Breathing: Bringing Oxygen and CO2 Balance to the Forefront

The insights shared in Deep Breathing go beyond just fixing imbalances in oxygen and CO2. They represent a revolution in how we think about health and longevity. The way we breathe can be the key to optimizing our energy systems, enhancing circulation, reducing stress, and fighting aging at its core.

We aim to change the way people approach their health: not by relying on expensive therapies or quick fixes, but by focusing on the fundamentals. By understanding how to balance oxygen and CO2 in the body, we can unlock a new realm of longevity—one where we can maintain vibrant health well into our later years.

In the coming articles, we will explore the real role of antioxidants versus oxidants in aging, and how to best optimize the balance for healthy longevity. Stay tuned for more insights on how breathing, oxygen, and CO2 work together to improve your life and healthspan.

Dmitry Kaminskiy Co-author of Deep Breathing: Maintaining Mitochondrial Quality for Healthy Lifespan Extension