Respiration
244 sourcesRespiration in Ray Peat's framework refers not just to breathing but to the entire process of cellular oxygen utilization — the mitochondrial electron transport chain that converts food energy into ATP. He followed the lineage of Albert Szent-Györgyi and Otto Warburg in viewing respiratory efficiency as the fundamental measure of biological health. When cells respire efficiently, they produce CO2 and water; when respiration fails, they shift to glycolysis, producing lactic acid.
Peat emphasized that breathing patterns matter — hyperventilation reduces CO2 levels, paradoxically reducing oxygen delivery to tissues (Bohr effect). He recommended calm, relaxed breathing and addressing the metabolic factors that drive hyperventilation (low CO2, anxiety, metabolic acidosis).
Key Positions
- Cellular respiration (mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation) is the foundation of health
- Efficient respiration produces CO2 and water; impaired respiration produces lactic acid
- Hyperventilation reduces CO2, paradoxically reducing tissue oxygenation
- Thyroid hormone is the primary driver of respiratory enzyme activity
- PUFAs damage the respiratory chain by incorporating into cardiolipin
- The respiratory quotient (CO2 produced / O2 consumed) indicates fuel source and efficiency
- Breathing exercises should focus on retaining CO2, not just deep breathing
Sources
244 items-
carbon monoxide cancer hormone
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Thyroid Function — Gary Null
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Aging Eyes, Infant Eyes, and Excitable Tissues
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Aging, estrogen, and progesterone.
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Altitude and Mortality.
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Alzheimer's: The problem of Alzheimer's disease as a clue to immortality - part 1.
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Alzheimer's: The problem of Alzheimer's disease as a clue to immortality - part 2.
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Aspirin, brain and cancer.
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Autonomic systems.
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Bleeding, clotting, cancer.
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Blocking Tissue Destruction.
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Bone Density: First Do No Harm.
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Breast Cancer.
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Caffeine: A vitamin-like nutrient, or adaptogen. Questions about tea and coffee, cancer and other degenerative diseases, and the hormones.
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Calcium and Disease: Hypertension, organ calcification, & shock, vs. respiratory energy
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Cancer: Disorder and Energy
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Cascara, energy, cancer and the FDA's laxative abuse
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Cataracts: water, energy, light, and aging
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Coconut Oil.
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Diabetes, scleroderma, oils and hormones.
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El problema de la enfermedad de Alzheimer como una pista para la inmortalidad
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Energy, structure, and carbon dioxide: A realistic view of the organism
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Epilepsy and Progesterone.
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Essays on nutrition, health, etc... - Vladimir Heiskanen (Valtsu)
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Estrogen - Age Stress Hormone.