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The Surprising Role Of Relaxation In Digestion

How relaxed are you when eating? Relaxation in digestion is one of the most important ways to ensure that you are absorbing the proper nutrients, and this approach is also a great way to avoid gaining excess weight. Let’s take a look at this concept in more detail below.

Relaxation Digestion

The Importance of Relaxation in Relation to the Digestive System

There are several advantages associated with developing a more relaxed attitude when consuming food. For example, relaxation helps to improve digestive system function; allowing you to absorb crucial vitamins and minerals. Meals will also be much more enjoyable. Furthermore, you can finally avoid common stomach problems such as cramping and bloating.

Tips to Relax While Eating

How can you avoid a host of common stomach problems? I recently wrote about the stress response and how it’s counterproductive to digestion. When you’re in a state of stress, even chronic, low level stress, your body shuts down digestion. That makes calorie burning inefficient. Stress also signals your body to produce insulin and cortisol, hormones which tell your body to store fat.

So if eating under stress is something we should avoid, what are we to do instead? Obviously, not everyone has the luxury to dine at every meal. Whose life is like that? But here are some things you can do to shift your body into a relaxation response while you’re eating. These small changes can help your body burn calories more efficiently.

Whether referring to a simple breathing exercise or changing a handful of habits, there are numerous approaches to consider.

Stress and Digestion

Time

Ultimately, your goal is to take more time to eat. So if you currently eat lunch in 10 minutes at your desk, can you take 20 minutes and step away from your desk? Try lengthening the amount of time it takes you to finish your meal. Start small. Take an extra 5 minutes.

The Amount of Food

Take smaller bites. Chew more thoroughly. Put your fork down between bites. These strategies aren’t designed to get you to eat less. Just to get you to eat more slowly.

Breathing

Take a few deep breaths (from your stomach, not your shoulders) before you start to eat and in between bites. It will both relax you and introduce more oxygen into your digestive system. It might be useful to think of your digestive system as a furnace that needs oxygen to burn.

Music

Listen to relaxing music while eating or, if you can, have a nice conversation with someone whose company you enjoy. Just don’t talk about anything stressful while you eat.

Focus Upon the Act of Eating

Forget trying to multitask. You’re working against your own biology when you do that. When it’s time to eat, just eat. Relax and enjoy your meal. Again, when your body is in the state of parasympathetic nervous system dominance, meaning you’re relaxed and not on edge, it can do its best, most efficient job of digesting your meal.

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Muscle Relaxation Techniques to Avoid Problems with a Gastric Balloon

So, how does the concept of relaxation in digestion relate to the Spatz3 gastric balloon? Perhaps the most important takeaway point is that remaining physically and emotionally relaxed will have a direct impact upon how your body metabolizes food. Here are some issues that you are likely to experience if you fail to relax:

Indigestion

Bloating and cramping are two signs which could indicate that you are not relaxed during a meal. If your abdominal muscles remain tense, you may experience sensations of discomfort and even nausea.

GERD

Otherwise, known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, GERD is associated with feelings of pain and burning in the oesophagus. GERD can lead to chronic issues such as heartburn, bad breath and even stomach ulcers.

Poor Nutrient Absorption

There are also chances that your body will be unable to absorb vital nutrients; an obvious concern in regard to your long-term health.

Muscle Relaxation in Digestion

Keep in mind that consuming easy digestive food might not produce the desired results. While the Spatz3 adjustable gastric balloon will allow you to lose weight at your own pace thanks to its flexible configuration, appreciating the relationship between relaxation and digestion can never be overlooked. When eating your next meal, be sure to sit back and relax. Knowing how to be relaxed will work wonders!

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