Sunday, August 11, 2013

Stress and Your Gut

Most of us have stress, it just depends on the severity and how we cope with it.  If you are like me, you suffer from a sensitive stomach that is coupled with stress.  The symptoms are immediate: stomach aches, constipation, diarrhea, etc when my gut is telling me something is not right emotionally for me.  I used to suffer quite intensely in my younger 20's with the amount of change and emotional conflicts of "coming into my own" personality. Thankfully there is a solution, easy and free.  Exercise. MOVE.
Here is a clip I read in "Women's Health" magazine June issue
"The brain's nervous system is linked to the gut's, so mental stress can wreak havoc on your GI tract, says Bincy Abraham, M.D., a gastroenterologist at Baylor College of Medicine.  Depending on your situation, your tummy troubles with over-the-counter drugs (stool softeners) prescriptions (such as anti nausea meds), or dietary changes (fiber can restore your gut's stress ravaged helpful bacteria).
In the meantime, the best natural remedy for stress caused consitpation, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting is...EXERCISE.  It may sound like the last thing you want to do when your stomach is aching, but heading out for a run can boost endorphins that make the mind and gut feel better."