Do you know one of the most important areas of your physical health you can focus on?
It’s your gut health, also known as your digestive health. Why?
Because it’s actually where many of your neurotransmitters and hormones are made. And these affect our mental and emotional health as well as spiritual health, financial health, relationships, mindset, our mood, our motivation. So if your gut is not optimally functioning, then all these other areas are affected, too.
Our gut or digestive system begins in the mouth and ends at the anus. But it also uses our senses of smell and sight and hearing, too. When we eat if there’s a lot of noise, that can amp up our stress and anxiety (even subconsciously) making us want to hurry which affects how we digest our food. If what we smell or look at while eating are not pleasant, then that affects whether we want to eat it. Anybody see how a child scrunches up their nose at Brussel sprouts or greens? Now maybe we are mature and have more refined taste buds and olfactory glands and really like those foods, but you get the point right.
Or if we are feeling discouraged, down, or anxious, that affects what or if we eat. Many people lose their appetites but others eat more when depressed or anxious.
And for women especially hormones affect our eating and digestion – whether we are 40 and perimenopause or older and menopausal. Those hormones, lack of, too high, or too low affects our digestion, too.
And if any of those things are happening and we don’t feel well, how do you react to life’s irritations, maybe someone in family says something not especially nice or they’re disagreeable, when we feel bad, we react instead of taking time to think before we react, right?
Many things can affect how we digest our food. Gut health really affects all areas of our lives. So we are going to focus on this topic this next month.
So What are 3 Steps You Can Do Today to Help Your Digestion?
- Prayer and rest before eating. We all need to slow down and not rush when eating. If not, our sympathetic nervous system or the fight or flight system goes into high gear which causes our heart and breathing to increase and digestion to slow down. We don’t want that when eating right? That can lead to heartburn, acid reflux, GERD and a host of medications you don’t want to take long-term. So stop and say a prayer of thanks to God for the food and those who prepared it. Take 3-4 deep breaths, too. That helps your mind get into slow motion so you can enjoy your food.
- Notice the food. The aroma, the way it looks, the way the flavors are blended together. What spices are in there? Sometimes when we go out to eat, my hubby and I like to guess what spices are in certain foods.
- If you have constipation or bloating, here’s one thing you can do to help – get regular exercise even walking 20 – 30 minutes a day or several times a week. This small step really can help improve your bowel regularity.
I hope that helps you realize there are small steps you can do today to help your digestion. You don’t have to simply accept feeling like you are right now. Take one of these ideas and implement this week. And if you need additional support, please reach out to me. I work with private clients online and in person. I’d love to help you, too.
I am a national board certified health and wellness coach and help women like you who are over 40 who have fatigue, digestive issues like bloating, constipation, brain fog, weight issues, as well as thyroid and autoimmune problems. I work with you and as a team, we focus on nutrition and lifestyle factors to help you have more energy, think clearer, and fit into those favorite jeans again. You can do this! You just might need some help from someone who’s been there herself and worked with clients – helping guide, support, and encourage you each step of the way. Contact me here to set up a free strategy session to see how we can work together. — Leah Cheshire, NBC-HWC
