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-
Estrogen and Osteoporosis.
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Estrogen, memory and heredity: Imprinting and the stress response
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Fatigue, aging, and recuperation
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Fats and degeneration.
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Fats, functions & malfunctions
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Food-junk and some mystery ailments: Fatigue, Alzheimer's, Colitis, Immunodeficiency.
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Gelatin, stress, longevity
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Genes, Carbon Dioxide and Adaptation
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Glucose and sucrose for diabetes
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Glycemia, starch, and sugar in context
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Growth hormone: Hormone of Stress, Aging, and Death?
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Heart and hormones
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Herb Doctors: Cancer Treatment TRANSCRIPTION (partial)
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Herb Doctors: Serotonin, Endotoxins, Stress TRANSCRIPTION
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Hot flashes, energy, and aging
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I Choose Ice Cream - Geneviève
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Immunodeficiency, dioxins, stress, and the hormones.
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Intelligence and metabolism
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Interview Repository - Andrei Pozolotin
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Iron's Dangers.
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Lactate vs. CO2 in wounds, sickness, and aging; the other approach to cancer
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Leakiness, aging, and cancer.
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Meat physiology, stress, and degenerative physiology
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Menopause and its causes.
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Milk in context: allergies, ecology, and some myths