Many of us have nervous systems that are amazing at flooring the gas: we can push through fatigue to perform well, stay up late to finish those last tasks, and ignore those small signs our body gives us that it’s time to slow down. 

If our nervous systems have the engine of a racecar of your choice, it seems like our “brakes” are more like those of a golf cart. Meaning the parasympathetic nervous system has trouble coming online so that our bodies can rest, digest, and heal.

For the vast majority of Americans, living in a constant state of fight or flight has become the norm.  This is incredibly draining of our energy, and for some of us keeps us so wired that we can’t sleep properly. Our bodies’ physiological requirements to fuel this state of fight or flight are difficult to keep up with and make us crave sweets, carbs, and caffeine to get through our days.  Often times, these foods are the opposite of the ones that would boost our immune system and help heal our gut.