You may have been told that digestion starts in the mouth, but your environment and state of mind can set the stage for proper digestion long before your food even hits your lips. In today’s busy, multitasking world, we rarely take the time to stop and eat. Be honest, how many meals do you eat on the go? How many times do you eat in a hurry in our car? In front of work emails at your computer? Standing up for a quick bite in between tasks? Multitasking your meals can have a serious effect on your digestive health.
When we eat on the go, our bodies are in a sympathetic state. The sympathetic nervous system – also called our “fight or flight” response – takes over anytime we are feeling stressed, either emotionally or physically. In this state, the body shuts down digestive functions to conserve energy for the heart, blood vessels, and extremities. We lose the ability to digest, breakdown, and absorb food properly. This means we lack digestive juices and enzymes to breakdown food and we absorb fewer nutrients, leading to nutrient deficiencies and common digestive issues such as gas, bloating, leaky gut syndrome, and more.
Our bodies need to be in a parasympathetic state to properly digest and absorb the food we eat. The parasympathetic nervous system – known as the “rest and digest” state – is our calming system. The key to proper digestion is to get our bodies into a calm state, so that our digestive system is fully functioning. Creating an eating ritual is the best way to ensure your body is ready to “rest and digest” while eating your next meal.
Create Your Own Eating Ritual:
1. Plan your mealtimes so that you are certain you will have the time and space to sit down and have your meals in a calm, relaxed atmosphere.
2. Before sitting down to eat, be sure to have everything you need so that you won’t have to jump up to grab a knife or sea salt.
3. Next, sit in a comfortable position with your both of your feet grounded on the floor. Notice your “sit bones” and the soles of your feet. Straighten your spine over your sit bones and settle into a relaxed, upright position.
4. Take a deep breath in, filling your abdomen and then chest with air, release the breath slowly. Repeat 3 to 5 times.
5. Begin to eat your meal. Take your first bite and consciously chew it 30 times. Notice how this bite feels in your mouth. Continue chewing each bite thoroughly.
Notice how your new eating ritual makes you feel before, during, and after your meals. You will soon see real improvements to your digestion with this simple but effective ritual.
Contributor: Kris Smyth, MNT, CHHC