Criticizing the way people breathe seems a bit unfair. It comes naturally, right?

Well, sure. But changing the way we breathe brings added health benefits.

"Breathing is natural, but we rarely get it right," said Elizabeth Peyton-Jones, author of "Cook Yourself Young." She said breathing correctly contributes to a person's mental state, which is important to overall health. It helps calm the mind, which can rest the body.

"Breathing, which actually should be quite normal, in fact, is not really normal," Peyton-Jones said.

Whether sitting at a desk, waiting for a bus or relaxing at home, many people breathe incorrectly.

"People tend to breathe quite shallow," said Peyton-Jones. "Some people hardly breathe at all. You actually can't see their chest or their stomach moving, and you don't feel the breath coming out of their mouth. It's so shallow, it's hardly noticeable."

If you're not breathing deeply, you're not getting enough oxygen and "not pumping oxygen around the body like you should."

When breathing correctly, energy levels are high and neck and shoulders are relaxed, which can help with digestion, she said.

Picture inhaling and exhaling deeply, watching your belly push itself in and out. This helps you focus on the act of breathing.

Even focusing for just five breaths can lead to improvement.

"If you just concentrate on where you're getting the breath from, it gets deeper," she said, and that type of dynamic breathing can help with digestion.

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

The cold, hard truth:  Freezers need cleaning

When you're doing your spring cleaning, don't forget the freezer.

"While freezing foods helps prolong the shelf life, frozen food can still expire," said Amanda Leisenheimer, registered dietitian at Mayo Clinic Health System. "It's important to go through your freezer at least once a year and throw away any questionable food or items more than a year old."

Freezer burn also can happen, which comprises the taste and integrity of food. If you have frozen foods that are still edible but getting close to their expiration date, Leisenheimer recommends moving them to the front of the freezer to grab first when meal planning.

Once cleaned, fill the freezer with healthy items.

"Frozen vegetables are a great option for vegetables that aren't in season. An added benefit is frozen produce often has less sodium than their canned counterparts," Leisenheimer said. "They're easy to make and can be frozen until ready to make. Fruit can also be frozen and made into smoothies, topped on frozen yogurt or simply enjoyed as a cool, refreshing snack."

Remember to label and date all freezer items to keep track of how long food has been frozen.

MAYO CLINIC NEWS NETWORK