WEBVTT - How to enhance digestion through the vagus nerve

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to healthy Ish.

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<v Speaker 2>Thank you for joining us. Listeners, you have tuned into

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<v Speaker 2>the daily podcast from Body and Soul. I am Felicity Harley.

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<v Speaker 2>If you're a regular listener, you know we've covered the

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<v Speaker 2>vagus nerve recently a few weeks ago with physiotherapist Jessica Maguire.

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<v Speaker 2>Well you love this ep, thanks for listening, So we're

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<v Speaker 2>going to do another. Our guest today is Jennifer Warder,

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<v Speaker 2>Natchurepath with the Masters in Reproductive Medicine, and she's going

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<v Speaker 2>to talk about the relationship between the vagus nerve and

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<v Speaker 2>gut health and a simple trick to help you improve

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<v Speaker 2>your digestion. If you want more from Jennifer, I highly

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<v Speaker 2>recommend you listen to Extra Healthy Ish, where she talks

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<v Speaker 2>about how to use cycle sinking to.

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<v Speaker 1>Be a better you. You can catch that wherever we

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<v Speaker 1>get your podcasts. Jen Welcome to healthy Ish.

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<v Speaker 3>Thank you for having me.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, ys for.

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<v Speaker 2>Joining us today. Now I'm excited about this topic. We

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<v Speaker 2>did it recently and everyone loved the episode, so I

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<v Speaker 2>thought it would be good to we'll get an understanding

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<v Speaker 2>of the link between vegas nerve and gut health. But

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<v Speaker 2>first for those or as a reminder, what is the

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<v Speaker 2>vegas nerve exactly?

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<v Speaker 1>And what does it do? Good question?

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<v Speaker 3>So it's one of those things we hear a lot about,

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<v Speaker 3>but we actually don't often know what it is. And

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<v Speaker 3>it's a really long nerve that runs from the base

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<v Speaker 3>of our brain all the way down to about where

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<v Speaker 3>our reproductive organs and our stomach are. So quite long

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<v Speaker 3>nerve running down the back spine.

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<v Speaker 1>What does it do? Why is it there?

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, it's actually also when you were describing, it's

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<v Speaker 2>actually good to get a vision on it as well.

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<v Speaker 1>I did google it a little while ago, going what

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<v Speaker 1>does it actually look like? What does it do?

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<v Speaker 3>The vegas nerve is what actually controls out involuntary activities,

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<v Speaker 3>so we don't really think about breathing. The vegus nerve

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<v Speaker 3>is connected to breathing. We don't really think about our

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<v Speaker 3>heart rate too much and also digestion, so it is

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<v Speaker 3>what is working behind the scenes on all of those activities.

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<v Speaker 3>And it can also regulate our immune system and inflammation

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<v Speaker 3>as well.

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<v Speaker 1>Why have we become obsessed with it right now?

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<v Speaker 3>I feel like, I mean, we're talking about it if

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<v Speaker 3>yone's talking about it, Yes, I think that is just

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<v Speaker 3>a representation of our society. We get really into certain areas,

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<v Speaker 3>but this one rightfully so, because if we actually have

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<v Speaker 3>a focus on the vegas nerve and ways to you know,

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<v Speaker 3>what's known as tone the vegas nerve, we can actually

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<v Speaker 3>get some really great benefits, particularly with our digestive system.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, it's interesting, isn't it. I love how we all

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<v Speaker 1>just jump on health trends and I'm like, how come

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<v Speaker 1>we didn't talk about this years ago? We should all

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<v Speaker 1>know about this.

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<v Speaker 3>Yes, we're very informed now, We've got a lot of

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<v Speaker 3>information in our hands, and I'm truly a fan of

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<v Speaker 3>this one.

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<v Speaker 1>Talk to us a bit about what it does well,

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<v Speaker 1>the role it plays in our in the health of

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<v Speaker 1>our gut.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, and this is one where we often can get

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<v Speaker 3>confused because we think, well, how can a nerve impact

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<v Speaker 3>our digestive system? And it is that nerve that actually

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<v Speaker 3>regulates all those enzymes and acids in our starting from

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<v Speaker 3>mouth but through to our stomach. So when we start

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<v Speaker 3>to salivate, we're getting hungry, maybe we're at a fine

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<v Speaker 3>dining restaurant, and we can actually literally feel all those

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<v Speaker 3>enzymes starting in our mouth the saliva. That's great, that's

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<v Speaker 3>the start of the digestive process, and that's the vagus nerve.

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<v Speaker 3>It's telling the brain, Okay, we're about to eat. There's

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<v Speaker 3>a stimuli there, maybe it's food, maybe we're starting to

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<v Speaker 3>think about food, and so it releases those enzymes, and

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<v Speaker 3>those enzymes and acids are actually really important for all

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<v Speaker 3>the processes of digestion. So not only does it start

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<v Speaker 3>to break down the food in the stomach, but it

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<v Speaker 3>signals the body to start the movement of peristalsis. And

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<v Speaker 3>peristalsis is another one of those functions that the vagus

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<v Speaker 3>nerve actually controls, And simply put, it's the movement of

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<v Speaker 3>food through the intestine. So these are two very vital

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<v Speaker 3>functions of our digestive system. Without it, we might get

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<v Speaker 3>an overload of bacteria because the acid builds up the bacteria,

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<v Speaker 3>or we might get really stagnant, fermented digestive trapped because

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<v Speaker 3>things aren't moving through it. So we need our vegus

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<v Speaker 3>nerve to digest.

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<v Speaker 1>I've never even put these two together.

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<v Speaker 2>That is fascinating to know, just to just hear you

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<v Speaker 2>explain how well it's so important when it comes to digestion.

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<v Speaker 2>What are some of the conditions that can arise from

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<v Speaker 2>poor vegus nerve function pretty much anything so because particularly

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<v Speaker 2>the digestive enzymes and acids and also the peristaltic movement

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<v Speaker 2>are two very foundational functions of our gut. If they're

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<v Speaker 2>not working well, we can get bloating, we can get

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<v Speaker 2>loose movements, constipation, we can even get more chronic conditions

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<v Speaker 2>or if we're susceptible to them, chrones. Even some of

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<v Speaker 2>the newer terms.

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<v Speaker 3>You might have heard of c bow, so small intestine,

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<v Speaker 3>bacterial overgrowth, it might be reflux. So it's a really

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<v Speaker 3>important topic to address when you do have digestive issues

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<v Speaker 3>and to understand, well, is there some involvement there for me?

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<v Speaker 1>How do we work that out?

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<v Speaker 2>Yes?

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<v Speaker 1>I mean that's the really other question, isn't it test?

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<v Speaker 3>You know, to start to work on the vegas nerve

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<v Speaker 3>is pretty simple and it's pretty instant. The best thing

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<v Speaker 3>about our digestive system is it renews really quickly and

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<v Speaker 3>it responds really quickly. So it could be something people

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<v Speaker 3>do at home, and it could be something people start,

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<v Speaker 3>you know, as of today when they jump into their

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<v Speaker 3>lunch or dinner or breakfast.

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<v Speaker 2>So if we if someone's listening and thinking, oh, I've

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<v Speaker 2>got that symptom.

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<v Speaker 1>I feel like all of us have some sort of

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<v Speaker 1>digest we do how and we.

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<v Speaker 2>Put the focus on the vagus nerve. Is there anything

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<v Speaker 2>we can do to as you say, tone or resent?

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, there's different terms to be used around this,

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<v Speaker 2>the vagus nerve better digestion.

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<v Speaker 3>Absolutely yes, So really anything that will relax you will

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<v Speaker 3>have a effect on the vegas nerve and therefore digestion.

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<v Speaker 3>So we don't want to always have to think so specific. However,

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<v Speaker 3>there are some certain ways that are known to specifically

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<v Speaker 3>work on that nerve. So a lot to do with

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<v Speaker 3>your throat, if you hum, seeing gargle, even it's all

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<v Speaker 3>stimulating the vegas nerve. There are also some acupressure points,

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<v Speaker 3>massage points that can be triggered. If you perhaps have

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<v Speaker 3>your own practitioner, can they can lend in on that.

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<v Speaker 3>But also meditation and cold plunges which is so popular

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<v Speaker 3>right now. They're all working so well because of their

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<v Speaker 3>effect on the vegas nerve. So you know, the simplest

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<v Speaker 3>way you can start this now is you've got your

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<v Speaker 3>meal in front of you, you put your tech away,

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<v Speaker 3>and you take three deep breaths, look at your food

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<v Speaker 3>and just wait for those signals to go to your mouth,

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<v Speaker 3>so you might start salivating, you might start going, oh,

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<v Speaker 3>I'm actually feeling really hungry all of a sudden, and

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<v Speaker 3>it's that brain connecting with the gut and going right, guys,

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<v Speaker 3>we're ready, we're eating. Now, let's swap over to that

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<v Speaker 3>digest phase and let's eat that food, do what we

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<v Speaker 3>should be doing, digest it well, and then you'll be

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<v Speaker 3>pretty much not symptom free, but you know, lower symptoms

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<v Speaker 3>pretty significantly straight away.

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<v Speaker 1>There's tips I've heard in a long time. Literally just

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<v Speaker 1>three like a couple of seconds. We don't we do that,

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<v Speaker 1>do we?

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<v Speaker 2>We just sit there like I'm so hungry or I've

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<v Speaker 2>got so much on I've just got to eat this,

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<v Speaker 2>as I just did in front of you, eating like

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<v Speaker 2>I'm guilty to see that I'm chopping on my sandwich.

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<v Speaker 3>Yes, I'm a natural bath and I'm guilty of it.

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<v Speaker 1>So okay, good.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah. But you know, when we do it really well,

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<v Speaker 3>when we go to find dining, because it's our whole experience.

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<v Speaker 3>We sit there, we look at the menu, the waight

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<v Speaker 3>it comes over and explains it. We've been looking forward

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<v Speaker 3>to it all week the food gets presented to us,

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<v Speaker 3>we're told what it is. We have every little bite

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<v Speaker 3>with such you know, focus and intensity. That's you know,

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<v Speaker 3>perhaps a step too far, but that's how we should

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<v Speaker 3>be addressing food. Of Okay, I'm so excited by it.

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<v Speaker 3>What have I got here? You know? What colors have

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<v Speaker 3>I got? And actually engaging with the food, and that

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<v Speaker 3>can have profound effects on digestion.

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<v Speaker 2>Just quickly does the food? What about the food we eat?

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<v Speaker 2>Does that affect the vegus neva? What sort of role

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<v Speaker 2>does that play it? All?

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<v Speaker 1>These?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah?

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, so it doesn't necessarily affect the vegus nerve unless

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<v Speaker 3>you go ten steps back and your thinking neurology and

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<v Speaker 3>nervous system. But if your vegas nerve is struggling a

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<v Speaker 3>little bit, and therefore you are digestion struggling, that's where

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<v Speaker 3>you want to go to easier to digest meals because

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<v Speaker 3>if it's not producing those enzymes and acids and perastalsis

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<v Speaker 3>isn't working so well, then you want to load it

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<v Speaker 3>up with really easy to digest food. So slow cooked meals,

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<v Speaker 3>maybe beautiful soups stew, particularly in winter time, but just

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<v Speaker 3>be thinking, am I going to actually be able to

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<v Speaker 3>digest that big meal if I'm stressed and if I'm

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<v Speaker 3>not present to it, and maybe making some decisions.

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<v Speaker 1>Around that great advice. Jan, thank you for coming on

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<v Speaker 1>healthy Ish.

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<v Speaker 3>Thanks so much for having me.

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<v Speaker 1>Three seconds.

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<v Speaker 2>Next time you sit there in front of a bowl

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<v Speaker 2>of food, in front of a plate of food, whatever

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<v Speaker 2>sort of food, just wait three seconds and your mouth

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<v Speaker 2>start talking.

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<v Speaker 1>I hope you enjoyed this chat. I sure did. What

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<v Speaker 1>a good one.

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<v Speaker 2>Anyway, if you do want to go back and listen

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<v Speaker 2>to that last episode on the Vegas Nerve, I will

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<v Speaker 2>leave a link to it in the show notes. Please

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<v Speaker 2>rate and review this episode if you did enjoy it,

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<v Speaker 2>or of course, subscribe to this podcast healthy Ish or

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<v Speaker 2>a big sister one extra healthy Ish, follow us on socials,

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<v Speaker 2>grab our print edition which is out in your local

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<v Speaker 2>Sunday paper, and of course body andsoul dot com that

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<v Speaker 2>are used a place to go for more info. Thanks

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<v Speaker 2>again for listening, and stay healthy ish.