Autonomic nerves and taste
Autonomic nerves act without being commanded by the brain, so they work without asserting themselves. Examples include your heart beating and your intestines moving autonomously. The autonomic nervous system, which is divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves, is sensitive to the information it receives when you eat and how your body reacts to touch. Whenever you eat, the parasympathetic nervous system is activated because your stomach needs to move. From a functional point of view, eating and stress relief are the result of increased parasympathetic activity.
Our happiness when we eat is driven by the smooth activity of the parasympathetic nervous system. Taste plays a pivotal role in regulating the balance of the autonomic nervous system. A modern day”s life usually ends with an overwhelming dominance of the sympathetic nervous system, while the balance and harmony of the autonomic nervous system contributes to the comfort of the day. The role of flavor, which directly affects the autonomic nervous system, is different from the one we used to associate with satiety. The more you savor flavors, the higher your happiness level, which is supported by the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system.
It is the parasympathetic nervous system that is responsible for the calmness that comes with deepening the habit of enjoying flavors.
(1) Taste balances the autonomic nervous system
The parasympathetic nervous system is involved in the activity of organs in the body that are not under your control. When you eat food, the parasympathetic nervous system is triggered by the activity of your digestive system. All digestive organs are controlled by the parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nerves are more active when you”re relaxed and enjoying a delicious meal. When the sympathetic nerves are active, the body responds to external challenges and slows down circulation for self-protection and defense. However, when the parasympathetic nerves are active, blood circulation increases. In this way, the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves work in opposition to each other, requiring an opposite balance between night and day. The activity of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves has different roles in balance and harmony. Therefore, living with a certain balance of the autonomic nervous system keeps us mentally and physically healthy.
The parasympathetic nerve releases hormones that make us relax, calm our minds, and relax our muscles. These states are naturally induced when you eat food. After eating, the sympathetic nervous system is inhibited, slowing down breathing and heart rate, while the parasympathetic nervous system is activated and activates the intestinal peristalsis to help digestion.
“If you eat in a tense state, the parasympathetic nervous system becomes less active.” (Increasing immunity will surely cure diseases – Prof. Toru Abo)
The parasympathetic nerves are responsible for storing nutrients from food, slowing the heartbeat, and facilitating stomach movements. The parasympathetic nervous system is the nervous system that causes rest and calm. Conversely, the sympathetic nervous system increases heart rate, constricts blood vessels in the skin and intestines, and increases blood pressure. It inhibits the contraction of bronchial and intestinal muscles and causes sweating. The sympathetic nerves are responsible for regulating the body in preparation for external responses. Intense emotions cause a rapid release of hormones, which can cause the heart to beat faster. It’s also the one that expends the body’s energy, such as heightened senses for self-defense. Emotionally, tension, stress, anxiety, distress, and feelings of inferiority stimulate the sympathetic nervous system.
When the autonomic nervous system is in balance, the basal metabolism is higher and calorie burning is smoother. In the hectic pace of social life, the sympathetic nervous system dominates most of our activities, but the natural way for the sympathetic nervous system to coordinate with the parasympathetic nervous system is when we eat. The way we eat determines the level of coordination, which depends on how we use our five senses to enjoy flavors. People who eat deliciously and feel happy for a long time tend to accumulate less fatigue at the end of the day.
(2) Work to regulate the autonomic nervous system
The autonomic nervous system is dysfunctional when one side is overactive or underutilized, and long-term habits lead to disease. Stress begins when the sympathetic nervous system is over-activated due to external interruptions or the accumulation of worries, and if this process continues, it’s time to go to the hospital. However, the parasympathetic
When the parasympathetic system is active, the body’s autonomic nervous system is balanced by adding calm and relaxation. The activation of the parasympathetic nervous system when you enjoy a good meal is a time of self-regulation in your day. We have three times a day to eat to automatically balance the body’s overall balance. It”s a mysterious mechanism that allows the body to regulate itself. However, if you don”t take advantage of this control and avoid flavors when you eat, you”ll accumulate more and more fatigue. This is why office workers, who are forced to utilize their sympathetic nervous system throughout the day, often feel tired and overworked in the evening.
We often choose to walk, run, climb, swim, etc. to keep our bodies fit, but these exercises mainly stimulate the sympathetic nervous system. Exercises that relax the whole body, such as stretching or qigong, stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system. For the overall balance of the body, we need to find ways to enjoy flavors. The overutilization of the sympathetic nervous system leads to greater physical activity and less work for the parasympathetic nervous system, which works quietly inside. This leads to a decrease in digestive function and emotional stability, which in turn leads to a decrease in daily satisfaction.
Modern people are overloaded with information and their thoughts are cluttered. This leads to an over-utilization of the sympathetic nervous system, which can easily disrupt the balance of the autonomic nervous system. Finding and enjoying flavors that balance calm and excitement is the body’s desired health indicator.
Quoted from the book, “Taste Evaluation Theory”
