Lucy Devine
A doctor has shared an unexpected method that could apparently help extend your life.
By now, it seems we've heard all the tricks of the trade when it comes to maintaining youth and 'living longer' - but what are the experts saying?
Naturopath, Dr. Janine Bowring, from Canada, shared a video on TikTok, advising followers about one health trick in particular.
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According to Dr. Bowring - who goes by @j9naturally on TikTok - the secret to longevity, is actually taking fewer breaths per minute.
"The average adult takes about 15 to 20 breaths per minute, which is actually far too much," she explained. "If you can slow your breathing down to about 5.5 breaths per minute, that is related now to longevity."
Dr. Bowring - who has over 25 years experience - went on to explain that dolphins, for example, take fewer breaths and have longer life spans.
Meanwhile, mice take up to 250 breaths per minute and only live up to seven years.
Dr Bowring pointed out that stress can lead to us breathing more quickly, adding: "My tip here is to consciously breathe, slowing down the breath, this is one of the reasons why meditation and yoga can be really powerful in helping you to live longer."
It's important to note that while breathing exercises are often used in meditation and yoga, never try and hold your breath in order to achieve fewer breaths. If you would like health advice based on your own personal circumstances, please visit your healthcare provider.
So what's the science behind it?
In May 2023, a study performed on mice by a team at the Massachusetts General Hospital found that those who spent time in an environment with low oxygen levels lived 50 percent longer than expected.
The study - which saw the mice exposed to oxygen levels similar to that at Mount Everest's base camp - indicated that restricting oxygen levels in mice could extend their lifespan.
But there are limitations. First off, it's not clear how this would correlate to humans.
Meanwhile, it's also suggested that low oxygen exposure could be needed from a young age to have an impact on lifespan.
"Epidemiological studies have hinted that populations that live at higher altitudes tend to live longer and stay healthier as they age," said study senior author Vamsi Mootha. "We wanted to test whether, in a more controlled setting, restricting oxygen appears to do the same in our mouse model of aging."
Dr Robert Rogers added: "It is premature to speculate on the implication of these findings for human aging.
"But there are several interesting clues from epidemiological research that living at high altitude where there is a lower oxygen concentration might increase median lifespan and reduce the burden of age-related diseases."