Stress has a direct impact on digestion, making it important to examine how you eat, in addition to what you eat, if gut health is your goal. Our brain and gut are connected by the enteric nervous system6. When this system is in a rested state (rest and digest), the brain signals to the gut that it is ready to digest food. If the nervous system is in a stressed state (fight or flight), the brain signals to the body that it must prioritize survival. This can disrupt digestion and lead to uncomfortable symptoms after eating. The beautiful thing is that we have the ability to help guide our nervous system out of the stressed fight-or-flight mode and into rest-and-digest mode using a few key lifestyle strategies. Try out this three-step relaxation plan before your next meal to improve digestion in mere minutes. Build these strategies into your daily routine to experience smoother digestion and improved gut health over time:
