When it comes to improving our fitness, it might be a case of understanding our vagal tone that bit more. So, we shall look to examine just how our vagus nerve features in this process to better understand how we might improve things.
Let’s get started.
What Does Vagal Tone Tell Us?
Vagal tone can inform us as to how well our vagus nerve is behaving or functioning. It is indirectly measured by HRV or heart rate variability. This is a measurement of the time between the heartbeats, and is a true indicator of our heart’s vagal activity.
It is worth researching this further online or asking a doctor because improving our fitness levels is important to maintaining health. The balance between exercise and diet is something to get right to maintain desired BMI (body mass index).
What Causes Vagal Tone?
The key causes here, known as precipitating factors, are severe pain, stress that is emotional, and extreme fatigue, which happens during micturition or defecation. This is not generally linked to cardiac disease.
If your vagal tone is causing a problem, then it is something to get properly diagnosed with a doctor because then we can look to address the problem that can impact other parts of our body and also our fitness.
Ways to Deal with Vagal Tone
There are things that we can do to strengthen our vagus nerve and see us on the right track. These include:
- Breathing slowly and deeply
- Diaphragmatic breathing
- Alternate nostril breathing
- Being quiet
- Connecting with nature
- Thinking about diet
So, you can read how breathing in certain ways can make a difference. There are techniques that we can consider that will help with vagal tone, and is a case of practicing them regularly and often so that they make a difference.
Also, knowing the right diet with help considerably. We shall examine this in more detail next so that you understand just what you can eat that will help rather than hinder.
Managing Vagal Tone Through Diet
Choline is a precursor to acetylcholine. It can be found in various food sources. Eating more of these types of foods may help with improving your vagal tone. Look to include in your diet: eggs, beef, chicken, fish, red potatoes, sunflower seeds, and kidney beans.
These are common foods to obtain, so it will not prove much of an adjustment to make sure that you are eating more of these. Make dietary plans at home that incorporate them into normal eating and then you will not have to worry about it because they will eventually become a natural part of your diet.
If you need more help, then it might be worth contacting a dietitian for help. It is good, for instance, to not just know the foods that can help us but the types of meals that we can make with them that will prove tasty and nutritious. Then they are more likely to be eaten by a family member needing particular foods as their source of nutrition.
Home Devices
Then there are, of course, home VNS devices that can help with the stimulation of the VNS nerve. These will save you from entering a clinical environment for treatment and have proved effective for many. It is for you to try them. Always consult with a doctor or other health professional first, however, to make sure such treatment is suitable for you.
It is always worth exploring the alternatives, such as the portable technology solutions out there, when you are looking to address fitness and other health issues.
Conclusion
So, think about how you can help your vagal tone next time you are trying to make a difference with your fitness.
This is because there are benefits to be had by making the right decision concerning diet and the selection of devices out there that may be able to help.
