Mind, Body, and Soul Practices for Eating with Digestive Concerns
Gotta love having GI issues!
When dealing with various digestive diseases and conditions, it’s way too common to believe that what we eat is the key to finding relief. It absolutely is a super important piece of the puzzle, but there are so many other factors beyond the food. One of those just as, if not more necessary pieces of this great big gut health puzzle, is how we choose to eat.
To get a little science-y over here, digestion first begins with the sight, smell, or thought of food - also known as the cerebral or cephalic phase of digestion. When the mind gets these initial triggers, it tells the body, specifically the nervous system, to get to work. The stomach starts to produce acid, the intestines fire up, and everything is smooth sailing from there. Except not always….
We all know we wouldn’t feel too great after eating an entire pizza in .2 seconds before hopping on a stressful work call, so why do we act surprised when the more nutrient dense meals do the same? It all goes back to how we’re actually eating, whether that’s a piece of cake or a salad. I hate to break it to you, but when we’re living in a state of constant fight or flight, no amount of leafy greens will ever bring relief.
The gut-brain axis is CONSTANTLY communicating to each other, which is why healing any GI related disease needs to address the entire self - mind, body and soul. Our presence with our meals is much more important than what’s actually on our plates, because it’s not always about the food. Allow yourself to take the extra few minutes to relax and actually enjoy the delicious foods you’re about to consume, once again whether that’s a piece of cake or a salad.
Here are some tips on how to do just that:
Eating for the mind:
Since digestion begins in the head, become more aware of your thoughts around certain foods.
Remain mentally present by limiting distractions.
Notice the textures, flavors, and smells of each bite.
Take deep breaths before, during, and after eating.
Eating for the body:
Opt for mostly real, whole food sources - ones that you actually enjoy.
Set up a calming environment before eating to activate the body’s parasympathetic nervous system - aka rest and digest.
Fill your plate with all essential macro and micronutrients - aka protein, fat, carbs, and lots of plants.
Stick to a fairly consistent eating schedule so that your body knows what to expect.
eating FOR THE SOUL:
Eat foods that you truly enjoy and the ones that make you feel your best. If you hate greens even though they make you feel good, still don’t eat them. If you love pizza but it doesn’t make you feel so great afterwards, maybe don’t eat it every single day. Simple as that.
Engage in breathwork before eating, again this activates the body’s rest and digest state.
Practice gratitude and affirmations beforehand. Sometimes I like to say “thank you for nourishing me” to my food before eating. I know it sounds whack as hell, but it truly works wonders.
Create a sacred and calming space to enjoy your food. Be engaged with the meal, again no distractions. Maybe light a candle and dim the lights for some serious ambiance. You do you.