12/10 Gut Health/Vagus Nerve + Pulsetto, MC 1 Promo

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Hi friend,

When most people think about gut health, they focus on digestion, probiotics, or fiber. But there’s another piece of the puzzle that influences everything from inflammation to cravings to how your brain interprets stress:

It’s your vagus nerve — the superhighway between your gut and your brain.

How Your Gut Talks to Your Brain

Think of the vagus nerve as a two-lane road:

  • One lane carries information from your brain down to your gut

  • The other lane brings signals back up from your digestive system to your brain

Remarkably, about  80% of the traffic travels upward, meaning your gut significantly shapes mood, appetite, inflammatory responses, and even stress levels.

When this gut–brain pathway is balanced, people often notice:

  • Better digestion

  • Less bloating

  • A calmer baseline

  • More stable appetite and cravings

  • Healthier inflammatory responses

But factors like chronic stress, poor sleep, inflammation, or illness can weaken this pathway.

Foods That Support This Gut-Brain Pathway

Here is where Food as Medicine plays a major role. Certain foods naturally help support healthy vagal tone — the strength of your vagus nerve signaling:

🌱 Fermented foods (kimchi, yogurt, kefir)
Feed beneficial microbes that produce metabolites supporting vagus signaling.

🍵 Green tea
Contains L-theanine, which promotes calm and balanced neural communication.

🍓 Berries
Rich in polyphenols that nourish gut microbes and help reduce inflammation that can interfere with signaling.

🥬 Leafy greens
Support nitric oxide pathways, which are essential for nerve and vascular health.

Small, daily choices can strengthen how well your gut and brain communicate.

How Stress Quietly Disrupts the Conversation

Even if you’re eating well, stress can dampen vagus nerve activity, leading to:

  • Upset stomach

  • Changes in bowel habits

  • Heightened cravings

  • Acid reflux

  • Increased inflammation

Strengthening vagal tone can help break this cycle.

Want to Go Deeper? Join My Upcoming Masterclass

If you enjoy learning the science behind how food and your body work together, I’m hosting a LIVE Masterclass covering three important topics:

  • How daily coffee and tea habits relate to longevity

  • The role of dietary fiber in strengthening immune cells that target cancer

  • And what scientists are learning about the real drivers of high cholesterol

This session brings together some of the newest research in Food as Medicine and offers practical, everyday strategies you can start using immediately.

A Modern Tool to Support the Vagus Nerve

Alongside nutrition, sleep, and stress-relief practices, researchers have been studying ways to directly stimulate the vagus nerve. 

One device I’ve personally found helpful is Pulsetto, a wearable vagus nerve stimulator that delivers gentle electrical signals to help:

  • Support a calmer stress response

  • Promote balanced gut–brain communication

  • Enhance recovery and relaxation

It’s not a replacement for lifestyle strategies — it’s a complement that supports a natural biological pathway your body already relies on.

If you’re looking for a meaningful, health-forward gift this season, Pulsetto can be a thoughtful option for supporting stress, sleep, and overall well-being.

If you’re curious, you can learn more here.

Final Thought

Your gut and your brain are in constant conversation — and you can strengthen that connection every day.

Start with food. Support your stress response. Take care of your sleep.

And if you want an additional, science-backed tool to support your vagus nerve, Pulsetto can be a helpful option.

Dr. William Li

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