Boost Your Blood Oxygen Naturally: Must-Have Foods
Verified By
KIMS-SUNSHINE
Specialist,
12 January, 2025
Blood oxygen levels have been a topic of great interest since the COVID era. We were all asked to strap on smart watches or use pulse oximeters to regularly monitor ourselves, every few hours during the peak of the pandemic. The term itself is pretty self explanatory- the amount of oxygen found in your blood needs to be within a range and when it is lower than that, it can get dangerous and cause hypoxia related issues. Hypoxemia can occur due to a variety of reasons and a diet for increasing oxygen in the body should focus on improving iron levels in blood. Let us look at some superfoods and tips for better health in the long run. In general though, your blood oxygen levels should be 95-100% normally and any lower than 90% is considered medically relevant, requiring immediate assistance
Blood oxygen levels can get affected due to a variety of issues like-
- If you have sleep apnea
- Respiratory conditions like asthma, bronchitis, COPD, cardiac defects, pneumonia
- If you have fluid accumulation in your lungs
- If you are anaemic and your iron levels are low- your RBCs may not be able to transport as much oxygen as needed.
Also, many of us may have heard of the term hypoxia but it is different from hypoxemia. This is because hypoxemia means there is less oxygen in blood, while hypoxia means low oxygen in tissues. So, these terms cannot be used interchangeably.
Superfoods To Enhance Oxygen Absorption
Superfoods are those which are chock full of nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and promote better health and prevent inflammation in your body. We have listed some iron-rich foods for better oxygen flow
- Greens and fresh produce like spinach, fenugreek greens, amaranth and all other varieties you can think of- they make great curries, poriyals and sabzis or yummy sides for main foods.
- Beans, dals and channa or chickpeas are very high in iron.
- Some fish are good in this regard
- Nuts like pista, cashew and almonds are also good for you. Dried fruits like prunes, raisins, figs, dates and apricots are best.
- Whole grains like wheat, millets, brown rice, red rice, oats are all good for you as they contain fibre too.
- Eat fruits like pomegranates, watermelons, peaches, kiwis and gooseberries as well, when they are in season.
Iron rich foods work better when you supplement them with Vitamin C containing foods. All of these foods are pretty rich in nitrates and antioxidants too.
Conclusion
These are some of the best nutritional tips for optimizing blood oxygen levels that we have given you. Apart from a thoughtfully planned diet, you should try not to smoke, exercise regularly and aim to drink lots of water in a day. The easiest way to increase your blood oxygen levels is to take deep breaths- so try to get some pranayama or related exercises done everyday. More oxygen means your body will relax, destress and your muscles will relax literally- which means you won’t feel tight all over. Plan to add some meditation to your routine too- as it works so well with breathing exercises. Talk to your doctor if you think some medication may be the cause for low saturation levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does iron in food help improve oxygen flow in the body?
Are there specific fruits that boost blood oxygen naturally?
What role does hydration play in optimizing oxygen levels?
Are leafy greens effective for boosting oxygen in the blood?
How long does it take to see results from eating these foods?
