Did you know there’s a link? Our lifestyle and diet plays a prominent role. When we consume carbohydrates during mealtime, our body converts it to sugar (glucose). Glucose is our body primary source of fuel, alongside fat and protein. In order to access glucose we need insulin.

What is Insulin?

The pancreas produce this anabolic hormone. It acts like a key that unlock cell membranes of muscles, liver and fat cells to use the glucose in our blood for energy or store it in our liver as glycogen.

What is Insulin Resistance?

It’s when our body cells are irresponsive to insulin. Hence, our pancreas compensates by producing more insulin. It leads to high blood insulin, metabolic syndromes and other health conditions.

The link

(1) High blood insulin

It stimulates aldosterone (hormone) to increase salt and water reabsorption by our kidneys. This in turn increases blood volume, blood pressure and an increased hydrostatic pressure in the blood vessels. Consequently, fluid seeps into the space between cells, blood vessels, lymph vessels and connective tissues (interstitial space).

(2) High lymph load and volume

When it exceeds that which the lymph circulatory system can cope with, Lymphedema occurs. (Other health conditions such as lymph nodes excision, damages to lymph vessels, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, blockages of lymph vessels, are responsible for Lymphedema, including primary and secondary causes as well.

(3) Inflammation

High blood insulin is known to cause inflammation of the subcutaneous adipose tissues (SAT). It aggravates conditions such as Lipedema. Furthermore, inflammation alters tight junctions of the cell membranes in blood vessels. This allows for fluid to seep through (increased permeability).

Reducing High Blood Insulin

To support your condition, your registered massage therapist would explain compelling considerations such as a low carbohydrate diet to reduce high blood insulin. Further, a ketogenic diet would help to reduce inflammation. Moreover, participating in daily exercises is important for the uptake of insulin. In addition, it promotes lymph circulation. Besides, during exercise chemical messengers such Dopamine, Endorphins and Serotonin boost mental health.

Some interesting articles for further reading: ttps://pubmed.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/29528335 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/oby.22468 https://aocs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1007/s11745-007-3132-7 Moderate-Intensity Exercise and High-Intensity Interval Training Affect Insulin Sensitivity Similarly in Obese Adults – PubMed (nih.gov)Metabolic Effects of Exercise – PubMed (nih.gov)

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A client came to my practice because of constant issues with tightness around their neck (feelings of constriction when tears filled in their eyes) and abdominal regions.

They had difficulties taking deep breaths, vocal pitch control and voice projection as well. However, their consultations with the ear, nose and throat specialists and all diagnostic examinations revealed no underlying structural or pathological causes.

Should this scenario depict a condition that you experience, a registered massage therapist would likely chat with you about your vagus nerve. Vagus is Latin means wandering because it’s the longest of the cranial nerves which transverse past the head and neck to your body’s chest and abdominal regions. This nerve also innervates the muscles of your throat and the voice box too.

The Vagus nerve is also known as the pneumogastric nerve. It has mixed functions. It sent sensory messages such as taste to the brain (afferent). Besides, it relays messages from the brain to the neck, heart and lungs. In addition, the digestive tract and other organs, rest and digest (parasympathetic nervous system).

This nerve is known to over-react with some people, causing a drop in heart rate and blood pressure resulting in fainting (vasovagal syncope). It can also be dampened by C and D PTSD, stress, anxiety and trauma resulting in a low vagal tone.

However, some means by which it can be stimulated are neuromodulation with a mild electrical pulse, acupuncture, reflexology and effective massage therapy. Your massage therapist would empower you with self – manage strategies by educating you on breathing techniques, mind-body relaxation techniques, yoga, laughing, humming, chanting and cold therapy (cryotherapy) to impact your vagal tone.

You may be interested in further reading:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6697069/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6718640/

The Vagus Nerve
The longest cranial nerve is the Vagus Nerve

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