Autonomic Nervous System

The parasympathetic branch supports restorative functions such as digestion, immune function, tissue repair, and recovery. Restoring B1 levels and removing sugar normalizes the autonomic nervous system. Physical activity reduces sympathetic tone and produces genuine physical fatigue that promotes sleep, unlike mental exhaustion which causes a tired-but-wired state. Restoring ANS balance through breathing produces downstream improvements across cardiovascular, endocrine, metabolic, immune, digestive, reproductive, and neurological systems. Fasting shifts the ANS toward parasympathetic dominance, producing a calm, even mood. Vagus nerve engagement is one of the highest-leverage health interventions available and costs nothing. CBT has been shown to improve HRV and vagal function. The autonomic nervous system is distinct from both the peripheral and central nervous systems. A label may describe a symptom pattern but does not explain the individual cause. Postprandial hypotension is another manifestation of autonomic nervous system dysfunction, identical in mechanism to postural hypotension but triggered by meals instead of positional changes. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a measura…