Not just your diet, you can absorb nutrients and vitamins from fresh air: New study

We can absorb nutrients from the air we breathe! Why haven’t we heard about this until now? Here's what researchers are saying.

When you think of nutrients, you think they can be obtained only from your diet. However, researchers have found strong evidence that we can also absorb some nutrients from the air. In a new research published in Advances in Nutrition, scientists said that fresh air is an overlooked source of nutrients.

What are aeronutrients?

Need another reason to get some fresh air? Researchers say your body can absorb some nutrients from the air you breathe. (Pexels)

Researchers call these inhaled nutrients 'aeronutrients' - to differentiate them from the 'gastronutrients' that are absorbed by the gut - and propose that breathing in the fresh air can supplement your diet with essential nutrients. These include iodine, zinc, manganese, and some vitamins.

According to the researchers, to date, much of the research around the health effects of air has been centred on air pollution, even though for millennia, different cultures have valued nature and fresh air as helpful. The focus is on filtering out what’s bad rather than what could be beneficial. Until now.

The researchers' concept of aeronutrients shows that these views are underpinned by science. Oxygen, for example, is technically a nutrient — a chemical substance required by the body to sustain basic functions, they say. Because we breathe it rather than eat it, we just don’t tend to refer to it that way.

How do aeronutrients work?

There are still many unknowns. To date, research has predominantly focused on toxins, particulate matter, and allergens like pollen. For starters, we need to find out what air components are beneficial for health in natural settings like green spaces, forests, the ocean, and the mountains.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.