Dr. Navaz Habib on the Vagus Nerve, Stress, Sleep and Nervous System Health

Dr. Navaz Habib on the Vagus Nerve, Stress, Sleep and Nervous System Health

From Sweaty AF Podcast by Sweaty AF

March 13, 2026 · 38 min

About this episode

Dr. Navaz Habib discusses the importance of the vagus nerve in health, covering its role in stress, sleep, and overall nervous system balance.

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Navaz Habib, often known as The Vagus Nerve Doc, to talk about why the vagus nerve has become such an important part of the modern health conversation. We get into what the vagus nerve actually is, where it runs in the body, and why it matters so much when it comes to stress, inflammation, recovery, sleep, gut health and overall nervous system balance. Dr. Habib shares how his own early health struggles led him into functional medicine and eventually to a much deeper understanding of the vagus nerve and its role in helping the body regulate and recover. We talk about what low vagal tone can look like in real life, from poor sleep and digestive issues to anxiety, low HRV and feeling like your body is stuck in overdrive. We also explore the connection between the vagus nerve and HRV, how age and perimenopause can affect the nervous system, and why simple daily practices like breathwork can be one of the most effective places to start if you want to improve resilience and recovery. Dr. Habib also shares his VAGUS Protocol and explains how he approaches supporting the nervous system through validation, activation, gut brain immune support, reducing…

People in this episode

Host: Sweaty AF

Guest: Dr. Navaz Habib

Topics covered

  • vagus nerve
  • stress
  • sleep
  • nervous system health
  • functional medicine
  • gut health
  • HRV

Keywords

  • vagus nerve
  • stress resilience
  • gut health
  • HRV
  • functional medicine
  • breathwork
  • nervous system regulation

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