How Stress Affects Digestion?

Two systems take the charge to maintain the homeostasis during Stress, Sympathetic and Parasympathetic system. Homeostasis is a state of maintaining the equilibrium within the body involving HPA axis and Sympathetic nervous system. Read more about how stress affects digestions? 

The Yin and Yang

The sympathetic nervous system is the Yang which means excitatory or stimulatory. Parasympathetic system is Yin which means calming or inhibitory. The Yang prepares the body for action or to deal with any emergencies such as infections or injuries. We can’t survive without this system and will succumb to injuries or infections. But for this system to act effectively our body make some temporary physiological changes. These changes need to be reversed after the threat has been neutralised, means coming back to Yin (sympathetic) state. 

But under certain conditions, such as chronic inflammation, injuries or infections, our body is constantly fighting. If these conditions persist for longer period, the temporary changes made during these events become permanent leading to ill health effects on other system. One system we are talking about is our Digestive system. 

How Stress Affects Digestion?

During Stress, blood flow increases towards organs like heart, skeletal muscles and liver. There is an increase in sensory reflexes, increased and pupils dilate & at the same time it slows down or almost stop the processes not important during stressful events. And Digestive system is the one which gets affected during stress.

Stress illicit flight and fight response and you don’t need blood flow to your gut or you can’t think of eating during this response. This inhibits muscular contractions of the GI tract and release of digestive enzymes.

When digestion is interrupted, indigestion of food leads to acid reflux, gas, bloating, constipation & indigestion. Stress affects sleep pattern, & make us more anxious. It prevents our mind from calming down even after the task is over. This overactive sympathetic activity causes a hyperactivity state. This state is not our default state and it is state to deal with stressors. 

Dysbiosis

If these symptoms persist for a longer period, it leads to dysbiosis (imbalance between healthy and unhealthy flora). Dysbiosis occurs because we are unable to digest food properly. The food stays in the stomach or intestine for a longer time due to indigestion. The rotting food further fosters the growth of pathogens in the GUT. This whole process affect digestive health in long term and lead to other chronic health issues. [Study]

So it makes sense to apply the techniques which can activate the parasympathetic system (Yin). The parasympathetic system helps us to unwind and decreases stress.

Techniques to lower stress for optimal digestion

• Techniques like diaphragmatic breathing, yoga, massage and meditation help to lower stress by balancing the nervous system.
• Watching sports, horror or thriller movies while eating activate the sympathetic system affecting digestion. This is the reason why restaurants play soothing music
• Foods or nutrients like herbal teas, magnesium, ashwagandha, cottage cheese, ghee, holy basil promotes digestion