When we are stressed, the body will be in the fight and flight mode which is either we fight the threat or run away from it. During this stressful situation, digestion is not a priority and the body’s energy is diverted into the brain and muscles to help prepare the body for the fight and flight mode.
If you rush eating your meals while standing or sitting by the office table or while doing any computer work, this means you are eating while stressed. If you are a mum who is having the meal while feeding a child or more and serving others, you are stressed! Any emotional and physical incident can affect digestion for a certain period of time.
So what happen when you eat while stressed? You can experience symptoms of indigestion, heartburn, nausea, constipation or diarrhoea. In severe cases stress may be at the root causes of many digestive issues; for example, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases and peptic ulcers.
It is easy said than done to avoid everyday stressors whether emotional or physical. However, we can try reduce the effect of stress before eating by sitting in a comfortable place and by taking few deep abdominal breaths. Take deep breaths, hold in for few seconds, breath out. Also, mindful eating has shown to help with most digestive issues; eat slowly, chew food thoroughly, focus and enjoy the food you are eating. I know this can be hard, but try it and see how you feel.
Stress and Digestion
