You could eat the “perfect” diet and still have digestive issues if stress is constantly hijacking your system. Here’s why—and what actually helps.
Fight, Flight, or Digest
When you’re stressed, your body prioritizes survival over digestion. Blood flow moves away from your gut, enzyme production drops, and everything slows down. You literally can’t digest well when you’re stressed.
This is why you might feel fine eating something on vacation but react to the same food during a stressful work week.
Signs Stress Is Affecting Your Gut
- Symptoms worsen during busy periods
- You feel better on weekends/vacations
- Eating when anxious always causes problems
- Your stomach “knots up” when stressed
- You’ve tried everything else with no results
Small Shifts That Help
- 3 deep breaths before eating
- No screens during meals
- Eat sitting down, slowly
- 5 minutes of calm before meals
- Track your stress alongside food
Sometimes the most healing thing you can do isn’t about what you eat—it’s about how you live.
