A Breath of Fresh Air

Posted byLisa at Micro of the MacroPosted inHealth & Well-BeingTags:, , , , , , , ,
All photos in this post were taken just outside of Minneapolis, MN,
during a recent visit with a dear friend

In researching for my post this month, I was surprised to find studies on nutrients in the air we breathe, called aeronutrients.  I’ve written about improving the state of our gut’s microbiome by spending time in diverse environments like oceans, forests, mountains, and waterfalls, (see this post & also this one) but that idea points to inhaled microbes, not nutrients.  Still, the idea of getting out in Nature is necessary for both.

Oxygen is a nutrient, but wasn’t considered so until a 2019 report due to its primary absorption through our noses rather than our digestive tract.  The science behind aeronutrients has now been expanded to the point that it is currently utilized in clinical applications.

Iodine, critical for healthy thyroid function, is one of the aeronutrients I read about most. A study done in 2011 compared iodine levels in 3 groups of school children in Ireland: one group living near a coast with plenty of seaweed, another living near a coast with little seaweed, and the third group living about 100 km from the coast.  All three groups were said to have low dietary intake of iodine.  The group living in the coastal area with lots of seaweed was almost 5 times less likely to have iodine deficiency than the inland group, with the coastal group near little seaweed falling somewhere in the middle.

Although I didn’t read it in the above study, I believe the kids near the seaweed-poor coast would have shown higher levels of other vitamins and minerals absorbed from the air than the group living further inland, closer to cities. A Science Direct paper explains people living in rural locations inhale several million (beneficial) bacteria every minute whereas city dwellers may inhale just a few hundred. My guess is, this applies to aeronutrients, as well.

Manganese, needed for macronutrient metabolism and bone formation, is another highly absorbable aeronutrient.  In fact, according to this article, welders exposed to high levels of airborne manganese are at risk of accumulating neurotoxic amounts via the nose-to-brain route, sometimes resulting in cognitive impairment. 

On the clinical side, inhaled vitamin B12 has been shown to increase blood levels 25-fold in less than half an hour.  This is an indication that drugs absorbed through inhalation, unlike those taken up by the GI tract, are not sequestered and detoxified by the liver, requiring a far lower dose of the drug (or nutrient) to achieve the same potency and blood concentration.

Further, this research article explains that intranasal insulin administered to patients with mild cognitive impairment improves brain function, attention, and memory.  The same application is now approved for those with PTSD and mood disorders.  

The air we breathe each day has a much broader effect on us than we realize.  The more we can immerse ourselves in Nature, the healthier the air we can find, and the more our bodies can benefit.

Aeronutrient Blessings,

Lisa

The content of this article is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with a qualified health care professional before acting on any information presented herein. Any statements about the possible health benefits of any subject discussed have not been evaluated by medical professionals or the Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or illness.

46 thoughts on “A Breath of Fresh Air”

  5. fire and water

    and we in

    being her gaia s son s and daughter s

    fire burn scares and flash floods

    the damage is real

    too many people

    and not enough

    kindness

    for mother nature

    from her children

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  12. A fascinating post! A friend of mine in China has been explaining how important the air where you live is, and I listened, but really didn’t listen. This post made me listen 😊 I had no idea that so many beneficial nutrients could actually be absorbed just by breathing in the right environments. Thank you for your explanation of aeronutrients…a great reminder to spend more time outdoors.

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  13. How very interesting Lisa. I must admit I’ve never heard of aeronutrients but it makes perfect sense. No wonder I feel so much better when immersed in nature. Thanks for the lovely pics and a very informative post.

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  19. Always fun to learn from our research Lisa! Although I’ve now lived over half my life in rural settings (former urbanite), I enjoy being in the clean and fresh air…and then catch the yellow crop duster getting ready for another run and wonder just how much that has an impact on the overall air quality. Luckily surrounded by a forest so hoping the leaves are sucking up those bad elements and releasing better ones ha.

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