We\u2019re here to share how stress may be destroying your gut health\u2014and how to avoid it.<\/p>\n
\ud83e\ude7a<\/strong>SIGN UP for \u2019s health newsletter with expert-approved tips, healthy eats, exercises, news & more to help you stay healthy & feel your best self<\/strong>\ud83d\udc8a<\/strong><\/p>\n Your digestive tract and brain are in constant communication through your gut microbiome, stress hormones, nerves and immune system. Together, these systems keep your digestive system operating properly\u2014including how food travels through the gut and how the body handles discomfort in the digestive tract.\u00a0<\/p>\n When you\u2019re feeling stressed, your body shifts into \u201cfight or flight\u201d mode. \u201cThis changes the balance between the stress response and the body\u2019s normal \u2018rest-and-digest\u2019 functions,\u201d says Dr. Dam. \u201cAs a result, signals between the brain and gut can change, affecting intestinal movement, increasing sensitivity to normal digestive activity and altering immune responses in the gut. These changes can contribute to symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation.\u201d<\/p>\n Related: This Popular Drink Isn\u2019t as Good for Your Gut Health as You Might Think<\/strong><\/p>\n Cortisol is known as the \u201cstress hormone,\u201d serving as the main stress regulator in the body. While it can be useful in short bursts, as it helps people react quickly when in need of quick alertness or a boost of energy, if it stays high for an extended period of time, it can negatively impact digestion.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you are stressed, your body releases cortisol as part of the fight or flight response. If this is chronic, it can become a problem,\u201d explains Dr. Supriya Rao, MD<\/strong>, a Board-Certified Physician in internal medicine, gastroenterology, obesity medicine and lifestyle medicine. \u201cHigh cortisol levels can slow gastric emptying, suppress your immune function and alter your gut motility. This can lead to constipation, diarrhea, reflux and inflammation.\u201d<\/p>\n Related: This Is the #1 Sign of Good Metabolic Health, According to Endocrinologists<\/strong><\/p>\n Your gut microbiome is another essential part of a healthy digestive system. It consists of trillions of bacteria and microbes that reside in your intestines. According to Dr. Dam, these microbes aid digestion, keep your immune system in check and produce good-for-you compounds your body depends on. They even collaborate with your brain to ensure everything\u2019s running smoothly.\u00a0<\/p>\n That said, your microbiome is extremely sensitive to any changes in your body\u2019s environment\u2014including chronic stress.<\/p>\n \u201cResearch suggests that psychological stress can change the composition of the gut microbiome, meaning that some types of bacteria become more or less abundant. Some studies also suggest that stress may reduce microbial diversity, although scientists are still studying exactly how these changes occur,\u201d Dr. Dam tells us.<\/p>\n Stress can impact the microbiome by altering gut motility, shifting the environment where these microbes reside. It can also affect digestive secretions and blood flow throughout the gut.<\/p>\n Related: A Psychiatrist Says This Is the Absolute Worst Habit for Your Stress<\/strong><\/p>\n Implementing a few simple stress-management techniques into your lifestyle is a surefire way to keep your gut health in check. Dr. Rao suggests meditation, yoga, regular exercise and even journaling. Adding more movement to your day can boost your mood, mental health and overall sleep quality.<\/p>\n \u201cGet good sleep,\u201d Dr. Rao stresses. \u201cPoor sleep keeps your cortisol elevated and worsens GI symptoms. If you can consistently lower your baseline stress levels, you can help keep your digestive health in check. None of these are magic on their own, but consistently lowering baseline stress can significantly improve your digestive health.\u201d<\/p>\n Take it from Aristotle: Every choice you make can impact your well-being. Keeping stress at bay can promote a healthier gut\u2014and if your gut is happy, you\u2019ll be happy.<\/p>\n Up Next: <\/strong><\/p>\n Scientists and philosophers alike have explored the principle of cause and effect for centuries\u2014the idea that one action inevitably leads to another. While Aristotle is most commonly associated […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":603,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-602","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/parkmania.pl\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/602","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/parkmania.pl\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/parkmania.pl\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parkmania.pl\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parkmania.pl\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=602"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/parkmania.pl\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/602\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parkmania.pl\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/603"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/parkmania.pl\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=602"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parkmania.pl\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=602"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parkmania.pl\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=602"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Why This Overlooked Habit Impacts the Gut<\/h2>\n
![](\"https:\/\/img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net\/tenant\/amp\/entityid\/AA1XLUkC.jpg\")
<\/p>\nStress Also Affects Your Body\u2019s Cortisol Levels<\/h2>\n
Stress Can Actually Change the Composition of Your Gut Microbiome<\/h2>\n
Stress-Management Interventions To Improve Gut Health<\/h2>\n
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