We do it so often — and without thinking — that it's easy to forget about. What are we talking about? Breathing of course.

We can go days without water and possibly weeks without food. We can't go minutes without breathing, though!

But why is that? What purpose does breathing serve? The importance of breathing is linked directly to the importance of one particular element your body needs constantly: Oxygen.

When you inhale, a large muscle called the diaphragm flexes downward to help draw air into your lungs. Your lungs are one of the largest organs in your body. They work together with the rest of your respiratory system to keep your body's cells supplied with necessary oxygen.
We do it so often — and without thinking — that it's easy to forget about. What are we talking about? Breathing of course.

We can go days without water and possibly weeks without food. We can't go minutes without breathing, though!

But why is that? What purpose does breathing serve? The importance of breathing is linked directly to the importance of one particular element your body needs constantly: Oxygen.

When you inhale, a large muscle called the diaphragm flexes downward to help draw air into your lungs. Your lungs are one of the largest organs in your body. They work together with the rest of your respiratory system to keep your body's cells supplied with necessary oxygen.