A study conducted by the International Journal of Kinesiology and Sports Sciences, tested 10 runners who implemented nasal-only breathing for six months while exercising. The study found that the runners’ respiratory rate (breaths per minute) and ratio of oxygen intake to carbon dioxide output decreased during nasal breathing compared with mouth breathing.
Researchers point out that the lower breath rate used during nasal breathing allows more time for oxygen to get to the bloodstream, suggesting that you can produce the same work and oxygenation (VO2 Max) while breathing through your nose as you can with your mouth. When you breathe slowly and deeply through your nose, you extract more oxygen with each breath.
To read the full article from U.S. News click here.