Is Your Gut Stressed Out? [Part 1]

Mostly likely, the answer is yes. Uncomfortable bloating and gas to the point where you no longer want to eat out is not a normal part of life. Constipation and diarrhea shouldn’t something you are now used to. Reacting to all different types of foods with no rhyme or reason is not just the way you are.

Unfortunately these symptoms are much too common, people are having nowhere left to turn but to just “deal” with their gut issues. If your gut is unhealthy then you’re guaranteed that the rest of your body will be unhealthy! Here are some common symptoms of a stressed out gut:

• Gas and bloating
• GERD and heartburn
• Sensitive to many foods
• Brain fog
• Thyroid imbalance
• Constipation or diarrhea
• IBS, IBD, Crohn’s, Colitis

One of the first steps to fixing your gut problem is taking an in-depth look at your lifestyle. Before I even talk about food with my clients, I ask them about their eating habits and their stress levels. This seems confusing at first, but once I educate them about the gut-brain connection the puzzle pieces start to fit together. We go over what their morning routine looks like, how they eat their meals and what causes their stress.

We live in a world we’re on the go all the time. In most cases you aren’t going to be able to eliminate your stress, and that is okay. What I work on with my clients is finding ways to deal with their stress. You can take all the supplements in the world and eat the most nourishing and healthy foods, but that will never solve your gut problems if you’re stressed out or if you’re doing things that stress your gut.

I teach my clients how to activate their rest and digest system, A.K.A their parasympathetic nervous system. Rest and digest means that all your systems come back into balance, including your digestive system. The best way to start activating this important system is by adding in more mindfulness throughout the day. This will look different for everyone and doesn’t mean that you have to sit down and meditate for 20 minutes a day.

Read Part Two