Actionable Knowledge

• There are more nerve cells in the enteric nervous system than in the central nervous system. Further, other than consciousness, the enteric nervous system conducts almost all of the same complex command and control functions as the brain. For example, the enteric nervous system senses the position of the food bolus based on the extension or pressure on the wall of the bioreactor. Then, the enteric neuro networks issue the correct location, extent, and timing of the muscle contraction through the peripheral system to squeeze the bolus forward. The electromechanics of food movement through the bioreactor works best with a large, concentrated bolus, preferably two or three times daily, associated with meals, rather than eating constantly by snacking.
• Virtually all living cells thrive and survive under the 5Rs: Response, Rest, Repair, Recovery, and Repeat. Nerve cells are no different, wherever they appear in the body (although only for nerve cells, Repair is debatable). There is a reason eight hours of quality sleep is unquestionably critical to brain health, and therefore the rest of the body. What we call sleep is simply the time it takes for the nerve cells of the brain to complete the three middle steps: Rest, Repair, and Recovery of their 5Rs cycle.
• Yet, if you eat a snack before bed at 10 p.m., your second brain's nerve cells don't get to start their Rest, Repair, and Recovery, or "sleep," until 6 hours later at 4 a.m. If you eat again at 8 a.m., your second brain only gets four hours of sleep. So how good do you think you'd feel and how healthy would you be only getting four hours sleep every night?
• Over the last few decades, we have steadily reduced sleep (by late eating), increased the workload (by snacking), and increased exposure to toxins (by factory food) in the enteric nervous system and bioreactor. It's a small wonder we have an epidemic of bioreactor dysfunction and dysbiosis leading to a metabolic syndrome, obesity, and metabolic disease crisis.