“When breathing through your nose you optimise the air arriving in your lungs and slow your breathing to a rate where your body and mind perform at its best,” explains Stuart Sandeman, a breathwork expert and author of the book Breathe In, Breathe Out: Restore Your Health, Reset Your Mind, And Find Happiness Through Breathwork.

As well as acting as a filter that cleans and humidifies the air entering your body, the shape of the nose helps to provide resistance, which in turn actively slows down your breathing rate – something which is important for your health.

Practising slow breathing can also make you feel calm, relaxed and balanced, Sandeman adds. “This is why it’s important to try to breathe through your nose as much as you can,” he says. “Your mouth should only be used in emergencies, because the gasp you naturally take through your mouth in moments like that rings the alarm bell to your body and mind to engage your muscles and get to safety.

“However, if you’re breathing through your mouth habitually then you’re ringing those alarm bells in your brain all day, which in turn can affect your energy, mood, sleep, digestion, immune system, face shape and more.”

Nose breathing: the surprising health benefits of breathing through your nose