Heal Your Body By Training Your Vagus Nerve

Heal Your Body By Training Your Vagus Nerve

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These days it is nearly impossible to avoid stress. Some wear their stress as though it were a badge of honor, while others push through hoping for light at the end of the tunnel.

The majority of the people I talk with do not recognize the damage that prolonged stress causes in their bodies. More than simply moderating your stress, it’s important to know you can heal your body by training your vagus nerve.

Vagus nerve – what’s that? The vagus nerve forms a bi-directional “super highway” between your brain and the majority of your internal organs. Vagus means “wandering” in Latin.

It’s an appropriate name for the longest nerve in the body that meanders around from your head through your chest and abdomen. Surprisingly, about 80% of the information transmitted by the vagus nerve is from the body to the brain.

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A Week Of Mindful Eating

A Week Of Mindful Eating

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Most of us pay little attention to our meals, especially breakfast and lunch. I have to be intentional – mindful – when I eat to ensure I am actually chewing. You, too? Consider exploring a week of mindful eating.

Mindful eating is a powerful practice that encourages us to be fully present while eating and drinking. This intentional approach can lead to improved digestion, reduced overeating, and heightened enjoyment during meals.

Embracing mindful eating offers a multitude of benefits that extend beyond just the act of nourishing your body. It enhances digestion by encouraging you to eat slowly and chew thoroughly. This allows your body to process food more efficiently and absorb nutrients effectively.

It adds a layer of enjoyment to your meals, as savoring each bite allows you to fully appreciate your food’s flavors, textures, and aromas. Mindfulness transforms mundane meals into delightful experiences.

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Protect Yourself When Taking Antibiotics

Protect Yourself When Taking Antibiotics

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We have a bit of a love/hate relationship with bacteria. Many of us have grown up hearing adults warn us about germs – or bacteria. What we, and likely they, didn’t realize is that not all bacteria is bad for us.

In fact, there is a bustling community of bacteria, yeast, and viruses in our guts, and this community plays an important part in our health.

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Your Gut Is Essential For Your Health

Your Gut Is Essential For Your Health

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The holidays can be a time when we indulge in more than we normally would. More food, most likely more alcohol, more activities, and less sleep. All of these can contribute to feeling behind the curve as we enter the new year. Do you know what’s at the root of this feeling? It’s your gut. Your gut is essential for your health.

There are many things that influence your gut health. These are primarily related to what you put in your mouth – whether solid or liquid – as Dana learned recently when she reached out for my help.

Dana, a young wife and mother to a 4-year-old daughter, realized she was spiraling downward and knew she needed help. She reported that she wasn’t doing well even before the holidays, but since Thanksgiving had been feeling like it was all getting worse.

Her gut was not happy – indigestion was a common experience – so she often avoided food. She also wasn’t sleeping well, which made her groggy throughout the day. All the added Christmas festivities were making things worse, so she picked up her phone to send an SOS to me.

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Bloating – A Call For Action

Bloating – A Call For Action

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Are you one of the 20-30% of our population dealing with gas and bloating on a regular basis? It is an uncomfortable signal that your body – specifically your digestive tract – needs your help. Though it may seem to be your norm, bloating is a call for action on your body’s behalf.

Many experience this as abdominal distention after eating throughout the day. Some of my clients have called it their “food baby.” If this is you, do you find you need to loosen your belt or choose to wear an elastic waistband for greater comfort?

Or are you reluctant to eat very much because you get bloating and discomfort afterward? Yet lack of nutrition causes malnourishment and can lead to loss of muscle mass.

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The Value of Ancient Healing Practices

The Value of Ancient Healing Practices

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Science has transformed many aspects of our lives, touching agriculture, medicine, communication, and more. My life now is quite different than it was twenty years ago, and I’m sure you would say the same. Yet, our scientific advances do not negate the value of ancient healing practices.

I have encouraged my clients to consume bone broth to benefit their digestive systems. Bone broth has historically been made from roasted bones and fresh ingredients.

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Pain From A Different Perspective

Pain From A Different Perspective

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None of us enjoy pain. It adds to the challenges we already experience by adding both physical and emotional stress. The typical response to pain is to open a bottle and pop a pill (or two), washing it down with whatever liquid is at hand. What would happen if we viewed pain from a different perspective?

Since our goal is usually to stop the pain, popping a pill can succeed … for the time being. What about identifying the root cause of the pain? If the pain returns and you need to repeat the process daily or multiple times a day, you may actually be adding fuel to the fire in your body.

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Restore Your Gut Health with the 5R Approach

Restore Your Gut Health With The 5R Approach

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You may have been able to ignore digestive distress in the past, but I’m guessing that Thanksgiving made it a little more difficult. What are your digestive symptoms? Bloating, gas, indigestion, hiccups, pain, burping, or disrupted elimination? Many will simply take a medication for temporary relief, not realizing that their body is sending a cry for help. Let’s review ways to restore your gut health with the 5R approach.

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Move Your Lymph

Move Your Lymph

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Most everyone is familiar with the cardiovascular system that helps to pump blood to the body’s tissues. Did you know there is another series of vessels that carry a clear liquid called lymph? It’s important to move your lymph to improve your health.

Move Your Lymph

While nutrients and oxygen are delivered to the body through blood, lymph has the task of collecting waste, toxins, and debris while also distributing immune cells through the body. Keeping your lymph flowing smoothly is critical for your body’s wellbeing.

Your lymphatic system is a network of vessels and lymph nodes working together to carry fluids from your tissues to your blood. It is basically your body’s inner drainage system.

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Bile Is As Important As Probiotics

Did You Know Bile Is As Important As Probiotics?

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When digestion works, we tend to go through life oblivious to what’s happening in our bodies. And when it doesn’t work, we look for relief. In this case, I’m pretty sure you don’t think much about bile, yet bile is as important as probiotics. 

Bile has many important roles in our bodies. It emulsifies and digests fat, breaking it down into small particles that can be absorbed by the small intestines. It also helps escort toxins and excess hormones from the body and protects the health of the digestive system. Read more