If you are about to eat some food, put your work down and relax. When we are in ‘stress mode’ aka ‘fight or flight’ mode, we don’t digest food well. That is because cortisol, our stress hormone, slows the production of digestive enzymes. This results in a lot of bloating, indigestion and discomfort when we eat.
Think about it this way, when we’re stressed our bodies priority isn’t digestion.
Try sitting down and relaxing for every meal you have this week. It sounds simple but most of us aren’t doing this. Just try it for a week, see what happens!
Why 1 week?
In mild cases, the gut lining can repair itself within 7 days. In other cases, a full gut healing protocol may be necessary. If you are unsure, contact your doctor to find out more.
2) Cut known food triggers for at least 1 week.
We all have foods we know can irritate our stomach. For example, this can be a known dairy intolerance, too much greasy food or reflux with spicy food. If you know it’s irritating then give your body a break to heal.
If you don’t know your triggers, here are some common foods triggers that you can try taking out for 1 week:
Refined sugars
Alcohol
Dairy
Wheat/gluten
Deep-fried oils
Excessive coffee drinking
Excessive spicy food
3) Apply a soothing topical oil to your belly.
One of the best examples of this is castor oil packs. This involves soaking a cloth in castor oil and applying a warm water bottle on top of the cloth to increase absorption.
Castor oil is a gentle, at-home-remedy to increase circulation to the area, reduce inflammation and speed up healing. (Find more detailed instructions below)
This can be a helpful tool for helping your stomach at the moment as it’s causing you trouble! However, if you want to use it more effectively, do it every night for 1 week!
***WARNING: Castor oil shouldn’t be taken orally. This will have a very different effect and not a desirable one!
Castor Oil Packs
Pour castor oil onto a flannel cloth or thin towel (enough to saturate).
Place flannel on abdomen.
Place hot water bottle (or heating pad on low setting) on top of the flannel and relax for 20 minutes.
Rest while the pack is in place – careful not to fall asleep with heating pad on (may burn)
After removal, wipe the area clean
*The castor oil pack can be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator and may be reused numerous times
Disclaimer
Information can be empowering, but we all have unique health profiles and needs. The health-related information contained in this article is intended to be general in nature. It is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. In no cases should this information be used as a substitute for a visit with a licensed naturopathic doctor.
