Gut Health 101: The Importance of North to South Digestion

We all know that digestion is important for breaking down food and absorbing nutrients, but did you know that it’s not just what happens in your stomach and intestines? Nope, the whole process starts in the brain, and it’s called the cephalic phase. Who knew digestion could be so brainy?

Our senses, including sight, smell, taste, and touch, all trigger the cephalic phase. A signal is sent by our brain to the digestive system to release digestive juices and enzymes when we see and smell our food. Imagine a symphony of digestive sounds and movements that come together to break down food.

The north-to-south digestive process starts in the brain and ends with a bowel movement.₁ Understanding the north-to-south nature of digestion is essential to maintaining optimal digestive health.

What can ruin the digestive process?

Here’s the catch: stress and anxiety can completely throw off the whole digestive concert. When we get stressed, our sympathetic nervous system takes control and redirects blood flow away from our digestive system to support our fight-or-flight response. This results in fewer digestive enzymes and less blood flow to the gut, which can lead to digestive dysfunction over time.

5 ways to support “rest and digest”

When we support our parasympathetic nervous system, our bodies can enter into a “rest and digest” response, which helps our body be better able to break down and assimilate nutrients in our food.

1. Sit down to eat your meals instead of standing. This helps you relax and focus on your meal.
2. Take 5 slow deep breaths. Deep breathing is a great way to trigger your parasympathetic nervous system.
3. Focus on gratitude and prayer. Taking time to be grateful and giving thanks for your food can help you to slow down and enjoy it more. Gratitude also helps produce feelings of well-being. ₂
4. Take time to savor your food and think about it. This helps put focus on the act of eating and helps get the salivary glands to release digestive enzymes in preparation for digestion.
5. Listen to relaxing music during meals. Music has been shown to help regulate mood and emotions.₃

In conclusion, digestion is a complex process that begins in the brain and ends with a bowel movement. Therefore, it is critical to support the north-to-south nature of digestion by promoting relaxation and avoiding stress. So, next time you sit down for a meal, take some deep breaths, take time to savor your meal and put away your phone. Your gut will thank you!

References

1. Nutritional Therapy Association.  Digestion-Function. [PDF file]. 2020. Pg 4.
2. Sansone, R. A., & Sansone, L. A. (2010). Gratitude and well-being: the benefits of appreciation. Psychiatry (Edgmont (Pa. : Township)), 7(11), 18–22.
3. Aalbers, S., Fusar-Poli, L., Freeman, R. E., Spreen, M., Ket, J. C., Vink, A. C., Maratos, A., Crawford, M., Chen, X. J., & Gold, C. (2017). Music therapy for depression. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 11(11), CD004517.