Research Round-Up
Studies Show It's Possible to Regulate Our Biochemistry and Facilitate Healing
A new study out of Wayne State University in Michigan has added further weight to a growing body of science proving we can regulate our own biochemistry to regain internal balance.
Researchers found that activities including the alteration of breath and conscious exposure to hormetic stressors leads to the voluntarily engagement of specific brain regions responsible for body awareness and stress management.
The specific brain regions involved release endocannabinoids — chemical signals that in turn help regulate virtually all of the body’s functional processes: the immune system, inflammation, hormones, digestion, dopamine release — processes that together lie at the root of most of today’s ills.
Through conscious modulation of endocannabinoids - via the ECS (Endocannabinoid System)- which are the chemical puppeteers that correct all these systems in our body, this means we can truly self-regulate everything from our mood to our immune system — simply through breathing, positive stressors such as cold exposure, and the right mindset.
The study confirmed this mechanism of action with the help of PET scans, which found a whopping 20% increase in CB1 (endocannabinoid) receptor binding potential in the test subjects.
Science is now catching up to what FNTP’s have always known, that although a high quality diet is fundamental to health, if we do not learn to master our perceptions and our physiological response to stress, we cannot fully unlock access to those nutrients and ultimately we will continue to struggle with certain aspects of our health.
Through eustress, mindset and regaining control over the way we breathe, we can indeed achieve self regulation of our bodies, and restore all the physiological imbalances that are governed by the ECS.
Read the new study here.
More Studies:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12144-022-03739-y
Time Spent in Nature Doesn’t Just Feel Good - It Heals
A growing body of research continues to confirm what we intuitively know: time in nature heals.
From lowering stress hormones and improving sleep to reducing anxiety and depression, exposure to green spaces is emerging as a powerful and underused tool for mental, emotional, and even physical health.
A 2024 meta-analysis of more than 100 studies found that exposure to green space was consistently associated with a lower risk of common psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, ADHD, dementia, and schizophrenia1.
Another review in 2023 showed that a 10 percent increase in neighborhood greenery corresponded to a significant reduction in depression and anxiety risk2.
While wilderness trips are wonderful, you don’t need them to experience benefits.
A 2024 Harvard Chan School review found that as little as 20–30 minutes a few times per week in green environments lowered stress, improved heart-rate variability, and promoted restorative sleep.
Interval exposure and multiple short bouts was just as effective as one long session.
Regular exposure helps:
Lower cortisol and blood pressure
Enhance mood and serotonin balance
Improve sleep-wake regulation
Reduce inflammation and oxidative stress
Support focus, memory, and emotional regulation
In short, nature is an antidote to the sympathetic overdrive that drives so many modern health concerns, from anxiety to fatigue to hormonal dysregulation.
More Studies:
Most Quit Breakthrough Weight-Loss Drug Within a Year
Groundbreaking Study Reveals:
A massive Danish study reveals that more than half of adults without diabetes stop using semaglutide within a year.
High costs, unpleasant side effects, and underlying medical or psychiatric conditions play major roles in the dropouts.
Younger users and men are especially prone to quitting, raising concerns since discontinuation often leads to weight regain.
At NTA AU/NZ, our practitioners understand that quick fix strategies all come with a boatload of side effects and repercussions. True long term weight loss is achieved through assisting the body to self regulate and should never be a side effect ridden white knuckle ride.
Learn more about the implications of “allopathic” approaches to weight loss here:
https://www.ntaaustralia.com.au/articles/the-dark-side-of-weight-loss
https://www.ntaaustralia.com.au/articles/weight-loss
https://www.ntaaustralia.com.au/articles/glp-1-supplements-are-everywhere
Need help to feel good in your skin again?
The latest health research news from around the world, compiled by Lead Instructor and Program Director Leanne Scott, FNTP.
