Diaphragmatic breathing reduces exercise-induced oxidative stress.
Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM January 1, 2011 Daniele Martarelli, Mario Cocchioni, Stefania Scuri et al.
Diaphragmatic breathing after exhaustive exercise increases antioxidant defenses in athletes. In a study of 16 athletes, those who performed one hour of diaphragmatic breathing after an exhaustive training session showed lower oxidative stress, lower cortisol, and higher melatonin compared to a control group that rested quietly. The findings suggest that this breathing technique may protect athletes from long-term damage caused by free radicals.