What Does Your Nervous System Do?

Have you looked at anything today? Heard anything? Moved your body? If so, then you have your nervous system to thank. Your nervous system is a highly complex and important system of cells in your body that impacts almost every aspect of your functioning. From your senses, your muscle movement, to your critical thinking skills, the nervous system has an important part to play.

This is why it’s so important to protect your nervous system, especially as you grow older. In addition to a healthy diet and regular exercise, many people also incorporate nervous system supplements, like Nerve Control 911, into their diets. These health supplements can boost your nervous system health and help ensure a long and active life.

But many of us may not realize how much your nervous system really does for your body. That’s why, here, we’re taking a closer look at the nervous system. First, we break this complex system into its specific parts and look at ways you can better protect this vital part of your body.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The central nervous system (CNS) consists of the brain and spinal cord and functions as the main hub of your body’s nervous system. The central nervous system processes information from throughout the entire body and works to coordinate various processes, thoughts, feelings, and actions.

The central nervous system controls and regulates many of your thought processes, such as your emotions, desires, and ability to think critically. It also regulates many mechanical processes, like breathing, heart rate, body temperature, and regulates the release of various hormones.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is the entire nervous system outside of your brain and spinal cord. This includes the peripheral nerves, cranial nerves, and neuromuscular junctions. Essentially, the PNS connects your central nervous system with the rest of your body, including muscles and organs.

The peripheral nervous system allows you to interact with the world around you by sending information from the various nerve cells back to the main hub of the central nervous system. The nerves of the PNS are referred to as axons and the peripheral nervous system can be broken down into two sections: the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.

The somatic nervous system controls sensory and motor information as it transmits to and from the CNS. This controls your voluntary movement where you consciously control or decide to make a specific movement. The autonomic nervous system, on the other hand, regulates involuntary movements, such as breathing, your heart rate, digestion, and blood flow.

Nervous System Conditions and Symptoms

Since the nervous system plays so many different roles in the body, there are many health conditions, ranging in severity, that stem from issues with this system. Nervous system conditions may be degenerative, which is when the symptoms occur gradually over time, or they may be considered acute, where the problems are sudden and even life-threatening. Here are some of the most common symptoms of nervous system disorders:

• Sudden headaches.
• Memory loss.
• Lack of coordination.
• Tingling sensation (especially in the extremities).
• Tremors and seizures.
• Muscle wasting.
• Language impairment.
• Vision problems.
• Loss of muscle strength and coordination.
• Numbness.
• Stiff muscles.

How to Protect Your Nervous System

As you can easily see, the nervous system is vital for your awareness, functioning, and overall health. By making smart decisions to protect the health of your nervous system, you can ensure a healthy and active lifestyle for years to come. Here are just a few ways to protect your nervous system:

1. Healthy diet.

A healthy, balanced diet is critical for every aspect of your body—your nervous system included. For your nerve cells to emit their impulses and function properly, they need specific vitamins and minerals. Calcium and potassium are two of the most important minerals for long-term nerve health. Bananas, prunes, and oranges are ideal sources of potassium, while calcium can be found in a variety of foods, especially eggs and leafy green vegetables.

2. B vitamins.

Of all the nutrients that help protect your nervous system, B vitamins may be the most vital. Each nerve is coated with a myelin sheath that essentially works as a form of insulation and protection. B vitamins, like those found in spinach, eggs, seafood, and beets, helps to keep the myelin sheaths healthy.

3. Regular exercise.

Regular exercise is one of the easiest and most effective ways to maintain a healthy body and mind. To protect your nervous system, you don’t need to get bulked up in the gym—simply an hour of moderate exercise a day (like walking, jogging, or yoga) is effective. Yoga, especially, is beneficial to your nervous system health because it helps lower your stress levels.

When stressed, your body creates the hormone cortisol. Too much of this hormone can impair your reflections, concentration, and memory. One of the most effective methods for controlling these cortisol levels is by decreasing your stress. With a focus on breathing and meditation, yoga is a perfect physical activity for this.

4. Nervous system health supplements.

In addition to a healthy, balanced diet with regular exercise, you can also incorporate health supplements designed to protect your nervous system. Certain supplements include unique blends of organic ingredients, such as passionflower, marshmallow root, prickly pear, and California poppy, which naturally boost your nervous system health.

Conclusion

It’s truly amazing everything that your nervous system does for your body. From allowing you to experience the world through your senses, controlling voluntary and involuntary movements, regulating blood pressure levels, and even your ability to think and reason, the nervous system has a major impact on your ability to function and interact with the world around you. Shouldn’t protecting this system of nerves be a top priority?

Through a combination of a healthy diet (especially loaded with B vitamins) and regular exercise, you can work to maintain a healthier nervous system. For an added boost, consider looking into nervous system health supplements that can complement a balanced diet and keep you enjoying an active and enjoyable lifestyle for years to come.