How do plants help us breathe?

Plants help us breathe by releasing oxygen into the air. During the day, plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to make food in a process called photosynthesis. While doing this, they release oxygen into the environment. Humans and animals need oxygen to survive, so plants are very important for our life. At night, plants take in oxygen and release a small amount of carbon dioxide, but the amount is very small compared to what they give in the day. That is why we say plants and trees are like our “friends” — they give us fresh air to breathe.