Stress Less, Thrive More: Activate Your Vagus Nerve for Thyroid Health

July marks Good Care Month, and in 2025, one of the most important forms of care we can give ourselves is something we often overlook: nervous system support.

In a world that constantly demands more of us, slowing down isn’t just a luxury, it’s a necessity for healing, especially when it comes to thyroid and gut health.

At Embody Vitality, I’ve seen how deeply stress and dysregulation affect my clients’ ability to heal. Many are doing “all the right things”—eating clean, taking supplements, getting lab work—yet still struggle with fatigue, constipation, weight gain, or brain fog.

The missing link? The vagus nerve.

🔄 Why Stress Sabotages Your Thyroid

Your thyroid doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It depends on your nervous system, gut health, and hormone balance to function properly. When stress runs high—whether from emotional pressure, poor sleep, or chronic overwork, your body produces excess cortisol, which:

• Blocks T4-to-T3 conversion, leaving you with inactive thyroid hormone

• Disrupt digestion, reducing nutrient absorption and slowing gut motility

• Triggers inflammation and autoimmune flares

• Impairs sleep, which further stresses the system

Stress becomes a loop, and your thyroid pays the price.

🔍 Enter the Vagus Nerve: Your Body’s Reset Button

The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve, running from the brainstem through the face, neck, heart, lungs, and down into the gut. It controls your parasympathetic nervous system, often called the “rest and digest” system.

Activating the vagus nerve helps your body:

• Shift out of fight-or-flight mode

• Lower cortisol levels

• Improve gut motility

• Enhance nutrient absorption

• Support thyroid hormone conversion

When your vagus nerve is toned and active, your body feels safe enough to heal.

🌿 Emanuela’s Top 5 Natural Vagus Nerve Activators

Supporting your vagus nerve doesn’t require expensive therapies or extreme measures. In my 30-day thyroid and gut reset protocols, I weave in these simple, effective tools that anyone can start today.

1. Deep Diaphragmatic Breathing

Take 5 minutes, 2–3 times a day, to practice belly breathing:

• Inhale slowly for 4 counts

• Hold for 4 counts

• Exhale for 6–8 counts

• Repeat for 5–10 cycles

This activates the vagus nerve, lowers blood pressure, and signals safety to the brain. It’s powerful enough to reduce inflammation and help regulate your entire endocrine system.

🌬️ Tip: Pair this with calming music or a short journaling session to compound the benefits.

2. Cold Exposure (Face Splash or Brief Ice Therapy)

Cold therapy is a powerful way to stimulate the vagus nerve and reduce inflammation—but it’s important to approach it with care, especially for women.

While cold plunges and long ice baths have become trendy, they’re not always ideal for women, especially those with:

• Thyroid imbalances

• Adrenal fatigue

• Low body weight or cold intolerance

• Hormonal imbalances or menstrual irregularities

Intense cold plunges may increase cortisol temporarily and disrupt hormonal signaling, particularly in women whose systems are already under stress.

Instead, I recommend gentler cold exposure to activate the vagus nerve without overstimulating the body:

• Splash cold water on your face (especially around the eyes and cheekbones)

• Apply a cold compress or ice pack to the sides of the neck for 30–60 seconds

• Try a brief cold rinse at the end of a warm shower (10–30 seconds max)

These milder methods still activate the vagus nerve and improve resilience—without spiking stress hormones or shocking the system.

3. Try Vagus-Activating Tools like Truvaga

I’m excited to partner with Truvaga.com to support your stress reduction journey.

Get 15% off sitewide with these exclusive codes:

• Truvaga Plus (handheld vagus nerve stimulator): Use code VISONEPLUS to save $30

• Truvaga 350: Use code VISONE350 to save $20

These FDA-cleared devices gently stimulate the vagus nerve through the neck, non-invasively and safely, helping your body reset from chronic stress and boost recovery.

4. Add Nervous System–Supporting Supplements (Like Microorganic Algae)

One of the most effective ways to nourish your nervous system and thyroid from the inside out is by incorporating microorganic algae—especially wild-grown, nutrient-dense algae blends that are rich in essential minerals, antioxidants, and amino acids.

At Embody Vitality, I recommend New Earth’s wild algae blends to support vagus nerve regulation, stress resilience, and thyroid hormone production naturally.

🌿 Why Microalgae Support Stress, the Vagus Nerve, and Thyroid Health:

• Rich in B vitamins, magnesium, and amino acids that calm the nervous system and support neurotransmitter balance

• Contains essential fatty acids and chlorophyll, which nourish the brain and reduce systemic inflammation

• Supports the gut-brain-thyroid axis by enhancing detoxification, digestive balance, and cellular repair

These wild-crafted formulas work synergistically to lower cortisol, reduce brain fog, and increase energy and focus—all while supporting healthy thyroid hormone conversion.

🌊 My Favorite Algae-Based Supplements from New Earth:

• Mind – Targets brain health and focus with wild blue-green algae

• Body (Bodr) – Delivers foundational cellular nutrition with minerals, enzymes, and phytonutrients

• Wild Algae Blend – A full-spectrum formula to support gut, immune, and endocrine balance

• ✨ Super Blue Green – Limited Time Only – Not your average greens powder!This superfood formula supports the gut, brain, and whole-body from the ground up. It’s perfect for boosting energy, digestion, and thyroid function—making it a daily go-to for foundational wellness.

💡 All New Earth products are wild-harvested, organic, and third-party tested for purity—making them ideal for thyroid, gut, and adrenal support.

✅ Special Offer for First-Time Customers

When you order through my link below, you’ll receive 20% off your first order:

SHOP NOW

Start building your foundation for calm, clarity, and thyroid healing—naturally.

Always consult with me before starting a new protocol.

5. Incorporate Gentle Yoga, Chanting, or Humming

These practices directly activate the vagal tone by engaging the vocal cords and diaphragm, key areas where the vagus nerve branches.

• Yoga (especially restorative or gentle flows)

• Humming, chanting, or singing (even in the shower!)

• Gargling for 30–60 seconds a day

Even 10 minutes of daily practice can shift your nervous system into healing mode.

🧘‍♀️ Bonus Lifestyle Tips for Thyroid Calm

Small daily actions build the foundation for hormone healing. These extras can deepen the impact of vagus nerve activation:

✍️ Journaling

Helps release emotional tension, regulate thoughts, and lower cortisol. Try a 5-minute nightly gratitude or stress-dump practice.

🥬 Iodine-Rich, Mineral-Dense Foods

The vagus nerve communicates with the thyroid, and your thyroid relies on iodine and selenium to function.

• Seaweed (nori, dulse, wakame)

• Wild-caught seafood

• Pumpkin seeds, Brazil nuts

These foods also support gut integrity and thyroid hormone synthesis.

💛 Healing Begins with Nervous System Safety

You can eat all the clean food and take all the right supplements—but if your nervous system is stuck in fight-or-flight, your body won’t fully heal.

Good Care Month reminds us that self-care isn’t selfish—it’s foundational. Supporting your vagus nerve is one of the most effective ways to care for your thyroid, gut, and mental clarity.

You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight. Just choose one tool and begin—maybe a cold face splash, a 5-minute breath practice, or investing in a Truvaga device to use at home.

✨ Take the First Step Today

At Embody Vitality, I help women reconnect with their bodies, reset their thyroids, and regulate their nervous systems—naturally and holistically.

Want help building your custom 30-day thyroid reset with vagus nerve activation woven in?

BOOK NOW

Follow @EmbodyVitality for step-by-step healing tools and updates on limited-time wellness offers.

📣 Don’t forget: Get an additional 15% discount by using these exclusive codes at Truvaga.com:

• VISONEPLUS for $30 off Truvaga Plus

• VISONE350 for $20 off Truvaga 350

Stress less. Heal more. Your thyroid will thank you.