This Groundbreaking Discovery Could Change Nutrition Forever

If you’re relying on food alone for nutrition, you’re missing a crucial piece of the puzzle

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My Longevity Experiment
March 19, 2025

Aeronutrients and the Health Benefits of Fresh Air

More Than Just Fresh Air

The invigorating feeling of breathing in fresh air may be more than just the absence of pollution. Scientific evidence suggests that humans can absorb essential nutrients from the air, challenging the conventional notion that all nutrients must come from food.

A new perspective article published in Advances in Nutrition introduces the concept of "aeronutrients"—nutrients absorbed through inhalation, as opposed to "gastronutrients," which are acquired through digestion. Researchers propose that breathing supplements the diet with essential nutrients such as iodine, zinc, manganese, and select vitamins.

The Constant Intake of Air

On average, a person inhales approximately 9,000 liters of air daily, accumulating to 438 million liters over a lifetime. Unlike eating, breathing is continuous, ensuring persistent exposure to airborne nutrients.

Historically, research on air quality has primarily focused on pollution and its detrimental effects. The emphasis has been on filtering out harmful substances rather than considering beneficial elements. Additionally, because individual breaths contain only trace amounts of nutrients, their potential contributions have been largely overlooked.

For centuries, various cultures have regarded fresh air as vital to health. The scientific understanding of aeronutrients provides a physiological basis for these long-standing beliefs. Oxygen itself is a nutrient—a chemical substance essential for sustaining life—yet it is rarely classified as such simply because it is inhaled rather than consumed.

How Aeronutrients Enter the Body

Aeronutrients are absorbed through intricate networks of tiny blood vessels in the nose, lungs, olfactory epithelium (the area responsible for smell), and the oropharynx (the back of the throat).

Unlike the gut, which breaks down substances using enzymes and acids, the lungs can absorb much larger molecules, up to 260 times larger. These molecules enter the bloodstream and even the brain in their intact form.

The rapid absorption of inhaled substances is well documented. Drugs such as nicotine, cocaine, and anesthetics demonstrate how quickly substances enter the body when inhaled, often requiring far lower doses than oral administration. By contrast, the digestive system metabolizes and detoxifies ingested substances, limiting their bioavailability.

Decades of Scientific Evidence

The concept of aeronutrients is not new, supporting evidence has existed for decades. In the 1960s, studies revealed that laundry workers exposed to airborne iodine had elevated iodine levels in their blood and urine.

More recent research conducted in Ireland analyzed schoolchildren living in seaweed-rich coastal areas. These children exhibited significantly higher iodine levels in their urine compared to peers in inland areas, despite having similar diets. This suggests that airborne iodine, particularly in coastal environments, contributes to iodine intake, making it a key aeronutrient.

Additional research indicates that manganese and zinc can enter the brain through olfactory neurons in the nose. While manganese is an essential nutrient, excessive exposure—such as in welders inhaling airborne manganese—can lead to neurotoxic effects.

The respiratory and olfactory systems contain specialized receptors capable of binding to various aeronutrients, including choline, vitamin C, calcium, manganese, magnesium, iron, and even amino acids.

More than 70 years ago, research demonstrated that aerosolized vitamin B12 effectively treats vitamin B12 deficiency. This finding remains highly relevant for individuals at risk of deficiency, such as vegans, older adults, individuals with diabetes, and those with excessive alcohol consumption.

The Future of Aeronutrients

While the concept of aeronutrients is compelling, much remains to be explored. Researchers must identify which airborne components contribute positively to human health, particularly in natural environments such as forests, coastal areas, and mountains. Until now, studies have primarily examined airborne toxins, allergens, and pollutants.

Further research could determine which of these elements qualify as essential aeronutrients. Given the proven safety and effectiveness of aerosolized vitamin B12, scientists may investigate whether other micronutrients, such as vitamin D, can be efficiently absorbed through inhalation to address widespread nutrient deficiencies.

Controlled experiments are necessary to evaluate dosage, safety, and dietary contributions. This research is especially relevant in environments where air is highly filtered, such as airplanes, hospitals, submarines, and space stations.

The discovery of aeronutrients could reshape our understanding of nutrition. It is possible that modern urbanization has deprived people of certain essential nutrients naturally available in fresh air. In the future, public health recommendations may include inhaling specific nutrients or spending more time in nature to obtain aeronutrients alongside a well-balanced diet.

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