As we were discussing… the SNS is the “fight or flight” nervous system, and activates the body to run or to fight. The stress hormones cortisol, adrenanline and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), shifts the digestive processes that may be occuring to be put on hold.
Just the opposite happens in our digestive system processes if we switch from our ideal “PNS” status to our “SNS” state: digestion is turned off. Dr. Wilson explains about stress and our digestion system…
- secretions are reduced as our saliva, digestive enzymes and protective mucus for our gut lining
- blood is shunted from the gut/digestive system to the muscles
- nutrient exchange and absorption in our digestive systems (cellular level) are reduced
- muscular contractions in the gut are inconsistent creating cramps, constipation or diarrhea
- sphincters close (trap doors that are to open to move food north to south) and inhibit normal movement of food through the digestive system tract
- pumping or peristalsis slows down allowing for toxins to remain longer in the large intestines (colon) causing harmful bacteria to multiply that results in out numbering the beneficial gut bacteria (learn more on RESTORE 4 LIFE blog)
- the stomach and intestinal wall lining become thin and damaged overtime- creating an optimal environment for toxins to be absorbed into the body (toxins leak out into bloodstream)
- the immune system is impacted if the digestive system is impaired or dysfunctional since 70% of the immune system lives in the gut wall lining (patches)
SO…if you are living your daily life as a race as most of us do as we are “AAA personalities” and addicted to busyness as well as multi-tasking constantly each day then the adrenal stress hormones (activated from the HPA Axis and the “EMS” response system), plus the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) suppress the digestive system functions.
STRESS is ON… DIGESTION is OFF.
STRESS is ON… IMMUNE system is dampened.
STRESS is ON… FAT burning is turned OFF.
As I wrote about in my very personal story, LIFE IS NOT A RACE (on Amazon), our stress “fight or flight” system was to be activated then turned off but the way we are all living life each day- the stress button is not turned off. Just as the tap is not turned off completely – so we end up with a constant drip of water all day long, our stress hormone cortisol becomes constantly “dripping” into our system. Eventually the well becomes dry, we over worked the system and gradually we feel fatigued and sluggish…then we continue to ignore those “red flags” I talked about in my book and one day find our self “exhausted’ on the side of the road not being able to pedal on your bike ride any further.
We can only ask our WHOLE body (including our brain/mind), so much each day and overtime too much of anything will lead to congestion, dysfunction and breakdown in the entire body systems. The stress response system is designed to increase your response to the threat or emergency, then recover after completed. We can’t live our lives feeling that a lion or tiger is chasing us from when we wake up in the morning until we hit the pillow at night. If we can’t let go, unplug and disconnect more often during the day, our “lion” keeps chasing us (stressful thoughts, exercise, worry, anxiety, food, infections…). Our brain will continue signaling the adrenals to make more cortisol (HPA Axis). DIGESTION is put on hold while we deal with the threat or emergency… but what if that “threat” is 12 hours long instead of 5 minutes?
Digestion issue will arise from living life as a race and feeling constantly under stress. Then add our poor eating habits and food choices. I see people overeat, eat too quickly and eat while unfocused (multi-taking on their phone). Again, we are turning off digestion or the parasympathetic nervous system while we are eating because we are feeling “stressed” by rushing, not chewing our food, shoveling food into our mouths, multi-tasking while eating and eating stressful toxic processed dead food. Then people drink way too much coffee, caffeinated beverages, alcohol, sugar and excessive consumption of refined carbohydrates. Empty calorie, dead foods are processed and stripped of nutrients. High sugary foods lack nutrients and use up B vitamins trying to process them (blood sugar roller coaster). We turn off our digestive system and deprive our body of the essential nutrients it needs for optimal health at a cellular level.
I make sure I tell my coaching clients to slow down, breathe, pause and reset (as well as unplug and disconnect) while eating their meal. We need to be relaxed and focused when eating to turn on the digestive system processes and be in the PNS. We do use Vibrant Blue Oils parasympathetic oil to help stimulate the vagal tone (learn more on my podcast or blog on the vagal tone). Prolonged stress will impact digestion as well as increase inflammation no matter what you eat. We not only need to eat real, whole nutrient dense foods BUT we need to be able to DIGEST and ABSORB the nutrients we are eating for optimal health. PLUS we need to balance our blood sugar levels and avoid insulin surges (read my other blog on blood sugar response and stress).
STRESS impacts all our health and body systems as you can learn more in my book about my experience with Adrenal Exhaustion. I have been healing and making my “come back” for FIVE YEARS since all of my symptoms started in 2013. Now I am on a mission to help others avoid experiencing what I have gone through with my health and performance the past five years. LIFE IS NOT A RACE … It is a JOURNEY.
Continue to PART FOUR!
Learn more how to get help by asking for The WHOLESTIC Method Coaching with myself, Debbie Potts and learn more on supplements with www.drwilsons.com for reclaiming your health from living life as a race as myself for too many years!
