The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast 1KHO 700: Mouth Breathing is Terrible | James Nestor, Breath
Feb 4, 2026
James Nestor, author and science journalist behind Breath, explores how breathing shapes health and performance. He discusses indoor CO2 and its cognitive toll. He explains why mouth breathing causes snoring, fatigue, and anxiety. He covers nasal breathing benefits, jaw development, and simple air-quality fixes you can try right away.
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Indoor CO2 Harms Cognition
- Indoor CO2 often reaches 800–2,500 ppm and impairs cognition, focus, and health.
- James Nestor explains schools, hotels, and offices recycle air causing headaches and reduced performance.
Monitor And Improve Indoor Ventilation
- Buy a simple CO2 monitor and check your child's classroom or hotel room.
- If levels are high, ask to crack windows or raise ventilation and escalate to school leadership if needed.
Diet Shapes Jaw And Airway
- Modern diets and soft foods cause smaller mouths and narrowed airways across generations.
- James Nestor links reduced chewing to crooked teeth and widespread breathing problems in children.
