Why do people and animals need to breathe? A biologist explains why you need a constant source of oxygen

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You need to breathe for the same reason you need to eat: It helps you make the energy your body requires.

You probably already know that food is fuel for your body. When you eat, food gets broken down in your stomach and enters your bloodstream.

From there, it gets delivered to your cells. Inside your cells are even tinier structures called mitochondria, which are the engines that power your entire body. Your mitochondria use the nutrients from food as fuel. But to turn it into energy, they need one more ingredient – oxygen.

Read the full article from The Conversation