There’s nothing more beautiful than the Amazon rainforest with its lush green canopy of trees towering three stories tall.

I’ve been lucky to spend a lot of time in these rainforests visiting with the traditional tribes who call the jungle home — so news of the recent Amazon fires is heartbreaking.

Especially knowing that they were deliberately set by ranchers and farmers who want to take these protected lands and open them up for commercial use.

But despite what’s being reported on the nightly news, these devastating Amazon fires are not depleting the world of its oxygen source.

You see, nearly all of the world’s oxygen is produced by plants through photosynthesis. And it’s true that the Amazon basin provides the most. But pretty much ALL the oxygen produced by the billions of plant life in the Amazon end up being consumed by the organisms that live there. Bringing oxygen production to a net zero.

The real problem isn’t coming from the Amazon. It’s coming from our oceans.

You see, phytoplankton that live in the world’s oceans are responsible for supplying 70% of Earth’s oxygen. But since the 1950s, levels of these life-giving ocean plants have disappeared thanks to pollution — especially plastics.

Take a look at this graph. It shows the oxygen content that’s currently in the air. As you can see, the amount of available oxygen in our atmosphere has been steadily declining for decades.

And as a result, we haven’t been getting nearly enough of the oxygen our bodies need to thrive. Let me explain…

In today’s polluted world, every cell in your body is deprived of oxygen. And oxygen deprivation is associated with all kinds of chronic diseases. Your brain doesn’t work as well, your heart doesn’t beat as strongly and your blood can’t circulate as well.

Getting more oxygen can reverse those conditions. Studies show oxygen therapy can:

The No. 1 way to increase the amount of oxygen your body gets is through hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). I’ve been using this therapy with my patients at the Sears Institute with remarkable success.

I treat patients with 100% oxygen at two times the normal atmospheric pressure. This increases oxygen levels in red blood cells, encouraging the healing and regeneration of tissues, blood vessels and nerves. If you’re interested in learning how oxygen therapy can help you or a loved one, please call my clinic at 561-410-7854. My staff is always happy to answer your questions.

Increase Your Oxygen Levels Easily at Home

While HBOT therapy is the most effective and long-lasting way to boost levels, there are ways you can increase your oxygen intake at home.

1. Take this Himalayan mushroom. Cordyceps sinensis is a mushroom that grows above 11,000 feet in the Himalayas. When you consume this medicinal fungus, you take in oxygen-dense polysaccharides. When these are broken down, their long chains of sugars release oxygen, which is absorbed on a cellular level. One study showed that Cordyceps increased cellular oxygen absorption by up to 40%.⁶ I recommend supplementing with wild-harvested mushrooms from Tibet. Make sure the label says Cordyceps sinensis. Take 2 grams to 5 grams twice daily for best results.
2. Pump up your oxygen with PACE. You need to keep your oxygen levels high to prevent chronic inflammation. And the best way to do that is with short bursts of vigorous exercise found in my PACE fitness program. You start with a simple exercise like running or jumping jacks. Do a set of these until you are winded. Then take a break and recover. And repeat for a total of three sets.

   Then gradually increase the intensity of each set. Over time, you’ll notice how much easier it gets at a higher intensity as you progress. You’ll also notice that the time it takes for you to recover will decrease. This means you’re boosting your body’s oxygen intake and utilization. The more you challenge your lungs, the bigger they get. And that means you’re getting more oxygen where it’s needed.

3. Add quercetin. This flavonoid antioxidant is the perfect complement to PACE. While PACE expands the size of your lungs, which increases the maximum volume of oxygen your body can use, quercetin kicks it up another notch. A study by the University of South Carolina showed that people who took 500 mg of quercetin twice a day also increased their lung power by more than 13%.⁷

   You can get quercetin from foods like onions, apples, berries and grapes. But I recommend that you supplement with 500 mg twice a day.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD, CNS

References

1. Mu J, . “Hyperbaric oxygen therapy promotes neurogenesis: where do we stand?” Med Gas Res. 2011;1(1):14.
2. Rossignol DA, “Hyperbaric oxygen treatment for inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and analysis.” Med Gas Res. 2012;2(1):6.
3. Bennett MH, et al. “Normobaric and hyperbaric oxygen therapy for migraine and cluster headache.” Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008;(3):CD005219.
4. Moen I and Stuhr LE. “Hyperbaric oxygen therapy and cancer—a review.” Target Oncol. 2012;7(4):233-242.
5. Rossignol DA, “Hyperbaric oxygen treatment for inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and analysis.” Med Gas Res. 2012;2(1):6.
6. Lou Y, et al. “Cardiovascular pharmacological studies of ethanol extracts of Cordyceps mycelia and Cordyceps fermentation solution.” Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs. 1986;17(5):17-21,209-213.
7. Davis JM. “The dietary flavonoid quercetin increases VO(2max) and endurance capacity.” Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2010;20(1):56-62.