Fall in love with food again

In my line of work, I very often come across either lack of interest around food at best or complete food fear and avoidance at worst. And they all used to love food.

What all gut sufferers seem to have in common, understandably, is the belief that food is the cause of their pain, bloat, IBS symptoms, erratic bowels etc.

‘Understandably’, because surely, if you have to run to the loo or bloat up like a 6 month-pregnant woman – within 10 minutes of having a food – any food – it just has to be caused by that food right?

But what about those of you who feel bloated or in pain – even on waking – on an empty stomach?

My answer is that you and most people, are looking at this problem the wrong way around. It’s not about food – it’s all about your ability to digest.

So if food isn’t the culprit – what is?

What started the myth around ‘food is the enemy’ is our misconception that food isn’t important. Food has nothing to do with health, we can afford to ignore what we’re putting into our bodies and how we eat, we have little idea of what foods will do to our wellbeing.

So we eat only what our brains (or emotions) or advertising tell us to eat, whenever and whichever way we want, while walking on the street, talking on the phone, shouting at someone on the phone.  And we expect our bodies to just get on with digesting it all.

Then of course we wake up when our bodies – and more specifically our guts – tell us ‘enough is enough’!

What is causing you to have difficulties digesting is everything around food.  And that includes the way you eat, how you feel about the food you’re about to eat, how much stress and anxiety there is in your life (including the fear of food and/or of symptoms).

And this explains why the one thing I constantly repeat to all my clients is: how you eat – not what you eat – is the most important element in gut health.

Why? Simple biology: your digestive processes – enzymes, bile and acid productions, bacteria health, liver function to name a few – switch off – as soon as your brain detects any stress.

So you could have the purest and most perfect food in your plate, but if your ability to produce any of the above crucial digestive processes is off – you will not digest it.  And it will harm your gut.

What’s the solution?

• Stop the stress before, during and after eating, if you can’t stop it completely in your life.
• Breathe: take a whole minute to breathe deeply into your gut to help your brain relax and your gut will relax in turn.
• What’s your state of mind? Do not eat if upset, rushed, stressed, over-excited.  Wait until you’ve calmed down.
• Watch how you eat: are you chewing well, being mindful of what you’re eating, and slowing down?
• Learn to love your food: by shifting your focus on enjoyment rather than fear, blame and guilt, you will fall in love with food again.

See, I didn’t once mention gluten, dairy, sugar or processed foods.  Because they are secondary factors in gut health. 🙂

Do you want help to transform your gut or any other health issue?

click the link below and let’s chat!