If You Breathe Like This, Don’t Ignore It- It’s Costing You Your Sleep, Brain & Health: James Nestor

ℹ️ EPISODE INFO

Released

April 1, 2026

Duration

2h 15m

Channel

Dr Rangan Chatterjee

Watch on YouTube

▶ Open ↗

📝 EPISODE DESCRIPTION

This episode is brought to you by: AG1: Get FREE AG1 Flavour Sampler, AGZ Sampler, Vitamin D3+K2 and Welcome Kit with your first AG1 subscription (worth $87, US only) https://bit.ly/43FwxQl VIVOBAREFOOT: Get 15% off your first order https://links.drchatterjee.com/4nqvRI3 Listening to this conversation could help you sleep better, quit snoring, and wake refreshed. You’ll learn a simple trick to stop anxiety in its tracks, and find out how to keep asthma and high blood pressure in check. And the secret to all these health gains? It really is a breath of fresh air… I’m talking to James Nestor, a science journalist and the author of international bestseller Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art. James spent a decade investigating why so many of us breathe badly and what happens when we get it right. And he’s here today to pass on some ancient wisdom, through the lens of modern science. We all know the feeling of shallow, rapid breathing that sets in when you’re anxious or stressed. And you don’t have to be a breathwork guru to recognise the power of a slow inhalation and exhalation to make you feel… ahh… grounded and calm. James’s message is that better breathing really is that simple. It’s about tuning in to how well you’re using your lungs, your diaphragm – and your nose. In this episode, we get into why something as simple as switching from mouth breathing to nasal breathing could transform your health. We talk about a fascinating piece of research showing that lung size could be the single biggest predictor of how long you live. James shares the evidence that many chronic and unexpected health conditions can be improved and even reversed through better breathing – something doctors aren’t taught and don’t tell you. And he measures the CO2 levels in my studio, which leads to a conversation about indoor air quality that I was not expecting. It might change the way you think about your home, your office, your airline choice and your next hotel room. Perhaps the most exciting thing about this conversation is how simple and accessible everything we discuss is. The foundations of healthy breathing don’t cost a thing. You don’t need a gadget, a retreat, or a prescription. You just need to unlearn some key habits and start making small changes – for big results. #feelbetterlivemore Connect with James: Website https://www.mrjamesnestor.com/ https://www.instagram.com/mrjamesnestor/ https://www.facebook.com/mrjamesnestor James’s book: Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art UK https://amzn.to/4tctHik US https://amzn.to/4uZC5Ub #feelbetterlivemore #feelbetterlivemorepodcast ------- Order MAKE CHANGE THAT LASTS. US & Canada version https://amzn.to/3RyO3SL, UK version https://amzn.to/3Kt5rUK ----- Follow Dr Chatterjee at: Website: https://drchatterjee.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drchatterjee Twitter: https://twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drchatterjee/ Newsletter: https://drchatterjee.com/subscription DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

🎤 SPEAKERS

• Dr. Rangan Chatterjee

  host

  Medical doctor and host of the Dr Rangan Chatterjee podcast, focused on lifestyle medicine and health.

• James Nestor

  guest

  Journalist and author known for reporting on breathing science and health.

🧾 EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Dr Rangan Chatterjee, featuring Dr. Rangan Chatterjee and James Nestor, If You Breathe Like This, Don’t Ignore It- It’s Costing You Your Sleep, Brain & Health: James Nestor explores how dysfunctional breathing harms sleep, stress, and health—and fixes it Nestor argues that many people “breathe wrong” (over-breathe and mouth-breathe), which can measurably shift the nervous system toward chronic stress and worsen sleep, energy, blood pressure, and respiratory symptoms.

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