Apr 8, 2020
My guest this week is
Dr. Navaz Habib, the founder
of Health Upgraded, a Functional Medicine and Health Optimization
clinic in Toronto, Canada. By identifying the root causes of health
imbalances, and addressing them naturally, his patients experience
optimal health the way their bodies were meant to feel and allow
them to contribute to humanity and serve more people. Dr. Habib’s
book “Activate
Your Vagus Nerve” is a
simple and effective guide to help identify and address major
missing pieces in patients dealing with chronic health concerns
such as anxiety and depression.
In this episode. Dr. Habib and I
discuss how activating and strengthening the vagus nerve can allow
for improved mental health and behavior in both children and
adults. Dr. Habib introduces the audience to the vital functions of
the vagus nerve and how activating it can optimize our productivity
and energy levels. Maintaining the health of the vagus nerve can
improve chronic issues such as sleep apnea, emphysema, anxiety,
stress, and depression. To
learn more about the vagus nerve and Dr. Navaz Habib
click here.
Episode Timestamps
Episode Intro … 00:00:30
Dr. Navaz’s Story … 00:02:25
What Is The Vagus Nerve? … 00:08:00
Causes of Disrupting Vagus Nerve Functions … 00:14:45
Vagus Nerve + Mental Health and Behavior ... 00:20:17
Assessing Vagus Nerve Function … 00:26:24
Strategies To Optimize Vagus Nerve Function … 00:31:45
Episode Wrap Up … 00:50:00
Episode Highlights
What Is The Vagus
Nerve?
- Nerves are the information transfer tunnels
between the brain and the rest of the body
- The
vagus nerve plays four major functions:
-
- Around 80% of the information that is presented
or remains on the vagus nerves comes from our organs, upward to the
brain. It tells the brain what is happening in the gut and when
your body has experienced any trauma.
- About
15% of information on the vagus nerve is going from the brain to an
organ, parasympathetically
- About
3% of the information on the vagus nerve goes to the muscles at the
back of the throat and vocal cords
-
- Strive to keep your airways strong and
open
- Sleep
apnea, emphysema, COPD are issues that decrease vagus nerve
function
- The
great auricular nerve in the center part of the ear is a specific
sensory branch of the vagus nerve
Causes of Disrupting Vagus Nerve
Functions
- Excess inflammation can be harmful to the vagus
nerve function
- Inflammatory foods stimulate
inflammation
-
- Over
time, excessive inflammation wears down the vagus nerve as it
constantly acting as the “brakes” to our inflammatory
system
Vagus Nerve + Mental Health and
Behavior
- Approx. 94% of the serotonin in our body is
produced in the gut and located in our enteric nervous
system
- An
imbalance in neurotransmitters working from the gut to the brain
are strongly linked to anxiety and depression
-
- Those
neurotransmitters are being signaled to the brain through the vagus
nerve
- Often
these imbalances are also seen in behavioral
issues
- Addressing gut health is
essential
Assessing Vagus Nerve
Function
- Assess bowel transit time
-
- Drink
a glass of water with a spoonful of white sesame seeds and track
when you discover them in yours or your child’s stool
-
- An
ideal bowel transit time would be for the seeds to begin appearing
between 16-24 hours
- Assess heart rate variability
-
- Tools
like Corsense Elite HRV, HeartMath, Oura ring
Strategies To Optimize and
Activate Vagus Nerve Function
- Working on deep breathing work at least 3x a
day
-
- Learn
to breathe correctly from your belly versus your chest
- Humming
-
- Simple humming with your children at mealtime
or in the morning and at bedtime will help bring you into a calm
state
- Gargling
-
- Practicing gargling water or saltwater every
morning and night
- This
activity forces you to work the muscles at the back of the
throat
- Listening to music and sounds of nature/birds
chirping
-
- Having your child lay silently and listen to
music or natures sounds of birds chirping can help in calming
down
-
- Great
technique to use before bed
Where to learn more about Dr. Navaz
Habib...
Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on...
Need help with improving your child’s behavior
naturally?
- My
book Life Will Get
Better is available for
purchase, click here to learn more.
- Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent
Program - a resource
guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving
their child’s behavior.
- Interested in becoming a patient? Contact
us here.