Your parasympathetic nervous system is your “rest and digest” state. By exiting the sympathetic (flight or fight) and entering into a full state of relaxation, you allow good energy to flow across your body (or… you allow the blood to move away from areas that are ready to go-go-go, and towards the areas like the stomach and intestines that you don’t get as much blood to when you are in sympathetic response).
Meditation, deep breathing, and massage are great ways to activate your parasympathetic system, which I believe we should everyday. Most of us live in a constant state of low-grade inflammation, and these exercises plus a healthy diet can help to alleviate unnecessary inflammation.
Now, inflammation is also good because it acts as an immuno-surveillance system to defend against disease. But… living in a chronic state of inflammation can be deadly over the years, linked to causing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome.
So, what causes low-grade inflammation? Poor diet and stress are contributing factors when it comes to being inflamed. Research shows that ameliorating your gut micriobota can help with immune system function by feeding the good bacteria in your intestines. So eat your yogurt and sauerkraut (and kombucha of course)!
Recent studies have also found a link between the systemic immune system and central nervous system, which is often overlooked but critical to understand. If you have an inflammatory response, you could also experience fatigue, behavioural change, and mild cognitive impairment. Ever feel foggy? It could be low-grade inflammation rearing its head.
Scientist recommend eating foods high in EPA and DHA (like salmon) to reduce inflammation (fun fact: anti-inflammatory just means that it is NOT pro-inflammatory). Healthy fats (like avocados) and fibrous veggies will also help you on your anti-inflammatory quest.
What about carbohydrates? Well, you need them to function and have sustained energy. As long as you’re choosing complex, minimally processed, and whole options, you should be OK when it comes to ameliorating your inflammatory response. I recommend dried fruits and fresh fruits for their antioxidant and flavonoid properties, specifically strawberries, blueberries, tart cherries, and plums, yum!
Now, go and do 5 minutes of relaxing to get your blood moving across your body and enter a de-stressed state to reduce inflammation for good.
