Breathing to lose weight: does it really work?
What if losing weight was only a few breaths? This is in any case what claims Miki Ryosuke, the creator of the long breath method. A technique based on a very precise posture and deep abdominal breathing, which would burn fat in a few minutes. So what is the breath diet, and is it really effective for weight loss?
The long breath diet, or breath diet
Discovering the benefits of long breathing
This technique based on deep breathing was invented by Miki Ryosuke, a Japanese actor. At the origin of the long breathing diet, a matter of back pain. The man suffering from persistent back pain, he consulted his doctor. The latter then recommended a series of exercisescombining specific postures and breathing. After a few weeks of practice, Miki Ryosuke noticed, in addition to a complete resorption of her back pain, a significantweight loss. He claims to have lost 13 kg and 11 cm of waist circumference in just 6 weeks. Proud of his discovery, he decided to spread his technique, which he calls the “long-breath diet”.
Principle of the breath diet
The long breath diet consists of taking a 3-second breath and a strong 7-second exhalation. The method also advises a very particular position. These are:
- Stand upright, advance one leg slightly forward, the other positioned slightly back.
- Carry about 90% of your body weight on your back leg, contracting theglutes.
- During the 3-second inhale, raise yourarmsin the air.
- At the expiration of 7 seconds, stretch your arms in front of you, palms in the air, contracting all the muscles of your body.
It is recommended to take these long breaths between 2 and 10 minutes a day. After a few months, the results would be stunning. The body would be more toned and relieved of its fat. The long breathing regime would be particularly favorable to theabdominal strap, which would regain all its firmness.
Postulate behind the long breath diet
The explanation behind the slimming effect of the breath diet would be very simple: the fats would oxidize on contact with a surplus of oxygen, and would thus be eliminated more quickly. On inspiration, oxygen, brought by the blood, penetrates the cells of the body, including the adipocytes. This excess oxygen would lead to greaterfat burning and elimination of toxins, and would thus promote weight loss.
Proponents of the breath diet would explain this phenomenon by a simple chemical reaction. Fat is made up of oxygen, carbon and hydrogen molecules. When the excess oxygen caused by deep inhalation reaches the adipocytes, it leads to the transformation of fat molecules into carbon dioxide and water. Then, by exhaling, the body eliminates excess CO2 and H2O via the emunctory organs (in this case the lungs). Also, the more we breathe, the more we “burn” fat.
Other Benefits of Long Breathing
Miki Ryosuke’s technique would also make it possible to:
- Increase your basic metabolism
- Strengthen your muscular condition, and particularly that of underused muscles (such as the transverse abdominal)
- Boost blood and lymphatic circulation
- Activate the different organs – digestion, lungs, kidneys
- Reconnect with its maximum respiratory capacity, starting from the diaphragm, rather than being satisfied with an extra breath, with our throat and the top of the bust.
What do studies say about the slimming virtues of breathing?
No specific studies have been conducted on Miki Ryosuke’s long-breathing diet.
(1)yogaand pranayana (deep abdominal breathing) exercises for 40 minutes, 4 times a week, without dietary restrictions. The other half simply went about their daily business. After 12 weeks of practice, it was found that the BMI of the yoga and breathing group decreased by 5.7%, while the other group gained weight. Moreover, it would be necessary to corroborate its results with other meta-analyses to conclude on the merits of the breathing method foron 60 overweight teenagers. .
Nevertheless, other studies attest to the benefits of regular yoga practice (pranayama and asana):
- In 2004, researchers found that yogic practices could, after 3 months, improve cardiorespiratory fitness and blood pressure(2)
- In 2003, a study showed that the practice of yoga reduced the deterioration ofcardiovascularfunction in subjects over 40 years of age(3)
It is therefore noted that deep breathing, failing to lose weight, could already improve respiratory and cardiac capacity.
The limits of the breath diet
Some doctors, faced with the craze around the long breath regimen, have decided to recall a few precautions. Indeed, according to some specialists, people with asthma or heart problems should refrain from practicing long breathing, at the risk of causing hyperventilation, dizziness and loss of consciousness and heart palpitations. Also, before any practice, it would be advisable to consult. In addition, some health professionals point out that weight loss, if not done by breathing, requires above allgood food hygiene and the practice of regular physical and sporting activity .
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.