Bloating, acid reflux, nausea, heartburn, constipation, leaky gut, autoimmune issues…
Do you have any of these? Uh! Not fun. And yes – digestive enzymes, probiotics, prebiotics and certain food additions or eliminations can help – but they are only helping kickstart a system, or acting as a temporary bandaid. Oh, and don’t even get me started on acid blockers (PPI’s), one of the most over prescribed meds that is doing way more harm than good. And if we are only helping one part of the system without actually supporting the underlying issues, we’ll keep in that cycle and continue the need for those aids.
So we need to get to the root cause. And for most people, that comes back to one thing.
Whether you realize it or not, I can almost guarantee your body is either tense, your mind is elsewhere, or there is another environmental stressor occurring if you’re experiencing ANY ongoing digestive issue.
So do this one thing the next time you eat. RELAX.
Think about what you can do to get into a parasympathetic state while you eat, and even a little bit after you eat. Not only will you digest your food better, but you’ll likely eat just enough – instead of overeating.
Some ways to help you slow down, calm down, and digest better:
- Sit down while you eat
- Take 20 minutes or more to eat your meal – schedule this in, you deserve it
- Put away distractions (phone, work, podcast, TV)
- Chew more intentionally – let your mouth salivate, chew a few extra times before swallowing
- Look at your food and each bite
- Set your fork down between bites
- Take deep breaths between bites
- Sit outside or in a calming environment
By slowing down our body and brain, we allow our body to start producing digestive juices (enzymes and stomach acids) that are NEEDED to break down your food and absorb nutrients. When our mind is in “go go go” mode, or worrying about something out of our immediate control, our body won’t do that. And if repeated over time, will lead to things like acid reflux, IBS, malabsorption, and so on. And these things lead to things like leaky gut, autoimmune diseases, and so many other symptoms and illnesses.
If you constantly struggle to get into that calm, “rest and digest” state, let us help! Book a free coaching call and walk away with tangible action steps and perhaps even a shift in perspective that will allow you to move forward feeling lighter.
