TIGHT BODY BOOT CAMP

NERVE

A person's steadiness, courage, and sense of purpose when facing a demanding situation.

"Solitude is strength; to depend on the presence of the crowd is weakness. The man who needs a mob to nerve him is much more alone than he imagines." - Paul Brunton

This is the last topic of discussion in regards to Warrior Training, for the time being. I challenged a few on the Team to a crash course in Warrior-Hood, and assigned them topics each week, for several months. Then, I started implementing a few here in the newsletter. I will be adding the crash course to the site in the near future, for those interested.

Many times when we think of nerve, we conjure up an image in our mind similar to the one pictured above. Nerves are part of the nervous system. They regulate the body and motor control. The nerves provide a pathway for messages to travel back and forth throughout one’s body. Without nerves, one would be motionless, thoughtless, lifeless. 

Overactive nerves, on the other hand, can age an individual prematurely, cause memory loss, insomnia, anxiety, panic disorder, and overall chaos within one’s being.

Certain elements interfere with nerve transmission and are to be avoided:

• Chemicals
• Heavy metals
• Vaccinations
• Viral infections
• Alcohol
• Tobacco
• Drugs
• Sugar
• Caffeine

Stress also plays a major factor in the health of one’s nerves.

HEALTHY NERVES REQUIRE:

• Rest
• Sleep
• Nutrient dense food and drink
• Clean, pure water
• Silence, reflection, meditation
• Secure environment: Relationships, work, and living space
• Love, affection, care, nurturing
• Emotional control, composure

HERBS THAT FEED THE NERVOUS SYSTEM:

All of the following can be made as a tea or taken in capsules.

• Acorus
• Ashwaganda
• Chamomile
• Gingko
• Kava Kava
• Oat Straw 
• Siberia Ginseng
• Skullcap
• Valerian 

IMPORTANT VITAMINS AND MINERALS FOR THE NERVES:

• B Complex
• B1: Trout, pork, sunflower seeds, nuts, wheat bread, peas, asparagus
• B2: Cheese, almonds, lean steak, oily fish, hardboiled eggs, spinach
• B3 (Niacin): Fish, chicken, turkey, lamb liver, peas, portobello’s, avocado
• B6: Sunflower seeds, pistachios, tuna, turkey, chicken, dried prunes
• Vitamins C: Bell peppers, guavas, dark green leafs, kiwi, broccoli, berries
• Vitamin D: Cod liver oil, oily fish, portobello’s, dairy, eggs, whole grains
• Phosphorus: Seafood, milk, raw egg yolks, whole wheat, barley, corn, pea
• Calcium: Milk, cheese, raw egg yolk, apricots, prunes, cabbage, spinach
• Sulphur: Cabbage, cauliflower, onion, asparagus, carrots, mustard greens
• Iodine: Powdered dulse, se lettuce, carrots, pears, onions, cod oil, kelp
• Magnesium: Grapefruit, oranges, barley, corn, gots milk, coconut
• Manganese: Raw egg yolk, almonds, walnuts, parsley, endive

As one feeds the nerves, lowers stress, and maintains a lifestyle conducive to balance, they will find they become quite pliable to life, and very happy.

The ‘nerve’ I’m referring to today in conjunction with the Warrior is more defined as:

the match will be a test of nerve: confidence, assurance, coolheadedness, self-possession; courage, bravery, pluck, boldness, intrepidity, fearlessness, daring; determination, willpower, spirit, backbone, fortitude, intestinal fortitude, mettle, grit, true grit, stout-heartedness; informal guts, spunk, moxie. To brace oneself mentally to face a demanding situation.

As you can see, many of these words describe topics I’ve already addressed. What makes ‘nerve’ different? 

I believe ‘nerve’ is what solidifies all the aforementioned. One must have a healthy nervous system to have ‘nerve’. A healthy nervous system allows one to objectively analyze any situation at hand. 

When one’s nervous system is depleted, whether through malnutrition, stress, unhealthy lifestyle and/or habits, or their environment (chemicals and so forth), they have not the means to deal with stress, let alone think objectively, and calculate a successful plan in an efficient manner.

This is when I find meal plans are thwarted, training sessions cancelled, etc., the individual does not have the necessary resources to cope appropriately, and therefore, looks for, and takes…. the easy way out, putting off their goals for yet another day.

This happens to all of us from time to time. Anyone who has kids knows this, has experienced it, and so on. It is to be the exception, however, and not the rule.

‘Nerve’ is the foundation of all further, future, successful action, and health: Mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Therefore, a Warrior does his best to feed and nourish his nervous system, as the Warrior is often in and out of Flight or Fight mode on a consistent basis for an undetermined amount of time. The nervous system plays a crucial part in his endeavors, and success, therefore, his resources both internally and externally, are carefully guarded, and maintained.

You do not have to be  Warrior to experience fight or flight. Hell, one could watch  movie in a theater and go into fight or flight, have a nightmare, extreme insomnia, work and/or family stress, you name it.

Feed your nerves folks. Take a look at the list of foods that nourish this body system. Incorporate these foods into your daily diet. As you will find, many of these foods cross-over into another category. Two for one, can’t beat it.

Challenge for this week:

Feed your nervous system/nerves.