Beyond Butterflies: How Stress Wrecks Your Gut

If you have ever felt anxious, stressed or nervous, you might have experienced an uncomfortable feeling in your gut. Have you ever wondered how an emotional response can lead to uncomfortable digestive symptoms?

Today, let's dive into a topic that is as fascinating as it is relevant- the connection between stress & your gut.

Stress isn't just a mental battle - it's a full body experience and your gut plays a key role in this. 

Let's take a closer look at what stress does to your gut...

• Increases growth of harmful bacteria in the gut leading to dysbiosis, leaky gut, bloating, anxiety, depression & more.
• Puts you in a fight or flight mode which diverts blood away from the gut to your muscles. Your body will prioritize survival over digestion & reproduction.
• Slows down the production of saliva in your mouth which impairs digestion because food can't be broken down.
• Weakens your immune system (70% of it lies in your gut!).
• Decreases stomach acid levels which again impairs digestion & can lead to the growth of parasites/pathogens/infections.
• Leads to increased cravings & binging on processed/junk foods disrupting the diversity of your gut bacteria
• Slows down gut motility (movement of your intestines) leading to constipation.

So you see... the gut & brain are closely connected and when you are stressed daily, it's not just about having indigestion- the damage is a lot more deeper and severe.

The good news? You have the power to break this stress-gut cycle! By incorporating stress-management techniques like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing, you can create a calmer inner environment and support a healthy gut. Focusing on a balanced diet rich in gut-friendly prebiotics, probiotics, and gut-essential nutrients like collagen, water, magnesium, etc can further restore gut health. For any gut healing protocol to be successful, it needs to address this gut-brain connection which is the foundation.

So, the next time you feel those butterflies erupt into full-blown stomach woes, remember – it’s your gut reacting to your stress. Let’s all prioritize de-stressing and give our hardworking guts a break! Share your favourite stress-busting tips or healthy gut hacks in the comments below!