Can Stress Mess-up Your Gut?

Can Stress Mess Up Your Gut? Yes!

Here’s how to fix it.

Are you feeling off lately? If you think that’s because of stress…. Probably that’s not just it. It could be because of your Gut.

Let’s discover how stress is disrupting your gut health and how you can improve it!

Our lifestyle plays a very important role in our overall health and well-being. Whether we get up early, eat breakfast, enjoy our work life, go for a run, eat dinner on time, sleep early, or get up late, skip breakfast, get stressed by work, skip physical activities, skip dinner, and sleep late… Every action we take in our daily lives determines the well-being of our bodies and our health. 

We all know that with a healthy lifestyle, our body will remain healthy, and with an unhealthy lifestyle, our body will be unhealthy. But we often ignore this simple rule.

When you are in stressful situations, your body reacts that way. You tend to ignore your food. Or you consume so much that you ignore the fact that you are overeating. You ignore your physical health, mental health, and emotional health. But do you know how this stress affects your gut? Let’s find out!

Stress has a major effect on gut health because it changes the gut microbiota, digestion, and motility. When you are stressed, your nervous system works differently. It responds to your situation differently. You will feel nausea, there will be improper digestion, diarrhea, etc. This shifts your focus and deteriorates your health. Some studies indicate that stress impacts gut health by 90.9%.

Check out the impact of stress on your Gut:

Effect on stomach acid

Stress directly affects your stomach acid production, which leads to gastritis and acid reflux. Stress can decrease the stomach lining's ability to produce defenses like prostaglandins, leaving it more vulnerable to acid damage. 

Inflammation in the body

Because prolonged activation of the stress response releases chemicals like cortisol, which can cause chronic inflammation even after the perceived threat has passed, stress can cause inflammation in the body. This inflammation may be a contributing factor to the number of health issues. 

Sensitivity and Pain

Stress can increase sensitivity in the gut, intensifying any pain or discomfort that may already be there. Additionally, it may be a factor in bloating, cramping, and stomach pain. 

Change in Appetite

Stress can cause emotional eating, which can have a detrimental effect on gut health by causing a desire for comfort foods.

When under stress, some people's appetites grow, while others may decrease.

Alters the digestive system and bowel movements

Stress may hinder the digestive process, resulting in constipation or a diminished appetite. It can also accelerate digestion, resulting in diarrhea. Stress interferes with the rhythmic contractions that help propel food through the intestines, causing irregular bowel movements. Additionally, it induces muscle tension in the digestive system, which further impacts gut motility.

How to Reduce Stress and Improve Gut Health?

“Your Calm Mind is The Ultimate Weapon Against Your Challenges. So Relax.” Bryant McGill

Stress, as per the research, has a negative impact on gut health because it disrupts microbial balance and increases intestinal permeability. So, how do we reduce that and improve our gut health? Let’s find out!

Start Relaxing Activities: 

Start something new. Search for stress relief activities. You can try game apps and stress-release toys like fidget spinners or fidget grips, or you can join escape room games. Physical activities tend to release stress, which can also calm down your gut, making you relax easily. You can even try meditation and spas to relax your body and relieve stress easily. 

Keep a check on your diet: 

Eat healthy and fresh. Stop including sugar and fast food in your diet. This will result in gaining body weight and diseases along with it. With more weight and diseases, you will get more stress, resulting in adverse effects. 

Rather, you can opt for fresh fruits, vegetables, beans, etc., that will keep your gut healthy and make you stress-free by maintaining the right body weight and boosting immunity, which will make your body free from any chronic diseases. 

Seek support if needed:

Stress has been looked at as taboo; due to this, people are often hesitant to seek help. Society is still judging others and not understanding how stress can affect the mental and physical health of a person. This is the reason people suffering from stress are hesitant about whether to consult a doctor or not. However, it is important not to hesitate and consult the doctor or someone you are comfortable sharing your concerns with. You can also try the Gut Microbiome Test, which will help you understand your gut needs. This test will help optimize digestion, identify intolerance, and provide the best solution to improve your gut health.

Complete 7-8 hours of sleep: 

Your body needs a rest. Due to hectic schedules and stress, you often ignore your sleep habits. This heightens the stress, and your whole body gets affected. 7-8 hours of sleep is always recommended, as this helps your body relax, calms your mind, and reduces stress.

Connect with your friends and family: 

Connect with your friends and family to reduce stress. Or meet new people and make connections. This will reduce stress, help you start fresh, and calm your mind. By spending time with your friends or meeting new people, your mind will be distracted from stress, and you will feel fresh.

Give yourself challenges: 

Set a goal; challenge yourself to complete that goal. This will distract your mind, keep you focused, and reduce stress. Also, it will give you a sense of accomplishment that will eventually motivate you to challenge yourself more.

Pick up a hobby: 

What’s your favorite hobby? Whether playing sports, gaming, adventure sports, dancing, singing, arts/crafts, gardening, or traveling, make sure to pursue that. Hobbies keep your mind fresh and help you to overcome stress. So, go for it and start working on your hobbies now. 

Conclusion

Stress can be caused by many reasons, but it is also important to understand how to control it and focus on your health. With small changes in your life, your physical, mental, and emotional health are affected. It works all together. You can also consult specialists for your gut health. Therefore, keep your health in check, stay stress-free, and enjoy your life, keeping your gut health in check.