So many people have digestive issues and this doesn’t just relate to food. We process everything in the belly. Emotions and feelings. Think of “gut feeling” or “gut instinct” this is a primal part of us and it is intrinsically linked to our sense of self and intuition.
In an article by Anya Nguyen, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California San Diego, in Psychology Today she explains
"The gut microbiome is part of a network, termed the “gut-brain axis,” that links the emotional centres of the brain with peripheral intestinal functions. For example, when we feel stressed or anxious, we may end up with an upset stomach due to the signals our brain has sent to our gut. On the other hand, disruption to gut pathways may affect our body’s stress response, emotional arousal, mood, motivation, and even higher-order cognitive functions such as decision-making."
We are connected in so many ways but we override these sensations. When we work through clearing and maintaining or physical connection our mental health is better and vice versa
Our physical bodies respond to what’s happening to our energy system, our emotions, our thoughts and our spiritual experience. By the time you experience discomfort on the physical level, you’ve likely been grappling with the emotion behind it for some time, even if you have not been consciously aware.
You may not realise how emotional your body really is until you start to connect the relative ease or discomfort you have been experiencing with the emotions you have been feeling. Understanding the language of all your body cries for.
Let's look at the stomach.
The stomach is a J-shaped organ that digests food. It produces enzymes (substances that create chemical reactions) and acids (digestive juices). This mix of enzymes and digestive juices breaks down food so it can pass to your small intestine. Your stomach is part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The GI tract is a long tube that starts at your mouth. It runs to your anus, where stool (poop) leaves your body. The GI tract is a key part of your digestive system.
Your stomach’s purpose is to digest food and send it to your small intestine. Its function is to:
Temporarily store food.
Contract and relax to mix and break down food.
Produce enzymes and other specialized cells to digest food.
The stomach takes months before it can adjust and digest solid food. It is sensitive to it’s environment, it functions really well under calm and safe conditions, stress and tension will affect its functioning very quickly. It stops the smooth motion of the stomach, called peristalsis. This is the wave-like movement of muscles that pushes food and fluids through your digestive system, from your throat to your anus.
Chaos, tension and stress causes turbulence and indigestion. A stressful external environment can disrupt and cause overwhelm and sickness to follow. Chaos around you can come in the form of over stimulation, emotional drama and pressure.
Think of sitting down to eat when you were younger, what was the environment you learned to eat in? Were there lots of dramas or arguments at mealtimes? Was the environment silent and restrictive? Were you made to eat everything on your plate and force it down?
The stomach can't function well under stress and can reject all that environmental energy and try to find space, peace and calm. To escape and rest before it can digest.
Often when I have "too much on my plate" and feel overwhelmed then my appetite is lost. I can't even think about food.
I have often had issues with digestion. As a young girl the crowded and noisy environment of school lunch halls were stressful and chaotic.
Think about your past and present environments for eating and digestion. Physically and emotionally.
How do they feel? How do they support your stomach and digestion to feel safe and calm?
Food and The Stomach
Inflammation plays a hidden role in almost every disease imaginable. Chronic inflammation can also magnify pain, damage healthy cells, cause joints to ache, cripple your digestive system and make you gain weight. That makes calming inflammation one of your top priorities when it comes to taking care of your body.
There are a variety of strategies to help fight inflammation. Detoxing, eating anti-inflammatory superfoods and generally following a healthy, active lifestyle.
It’s important to remove or avoid things that promote inflammation from your life. Since food can be one of the biggest triggers of inflammation, here are some inflammatory foods to avoid to support reducing inflammation in the body.
Vegetable Oils
Processed Sugar
Wheat Flour
Artificial Sweeteners
Highly processed foods are irritating to the body, try to choose the most natural option and don't be fooled by "healthy" labels.
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