Discover how modern life is making you sick to your stomach

We all know that the modern world can be tough on our physical and mental well-being. But what about our gut health? It turns out that many of the lifestyle choices we make—from the food we eat to the way we manage stress—can have a direct impact on our digestive system. Let’s take a closer look at how modern life is making us sick to our stomachs.

The Stress Factor

Stress is an inevitable part of modern life, but too much stress can wreak havoc on your digestion. When you’re stressed, your body releases hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which can interfere with your digestive process and lead to symptoms like cramps, nausea, heartburn, constipation, and diarrhea. To help minimize stress-related digestive discomfort, try taking up relaxation techniques like deep breathing or yoga.

The Diet Dilemma

These days we’re bombarded with tempting processed foods full of sugars and unhealthy fats that are bad for both our waistlines and our guts. Eating too much processed food can disrupt your gut microbiome (the collection of bacteria in your digestive tract), leading to an increased risk for gastrointestinal issues like Crohn’s disease or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). To keep your gut happy and healthy, aim to eat a varied diet full of whole grains, fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and probiotic supplements, as well as probiotic rich foods like homemade yogurt or sauerkraut.

Inadequate Sleep Cycle

Getting enough sleep is essential for overall health—and that includes gut health! Poor sleep habits can impair digestion by disrupting the balance of good bacteria in your gut microbiome. Additionally, when you don’t get enough shut-eye, it increases levels of cortisol in your body which can further disrupt digestion. Try to aim for 7–9 hours of quality sleep each night for optimal gut health.
If you struggle with getting a good night's sleep, try some natural alternatives to help with that.

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These days it seems almost impossible to avoid all the potential pitfalls associated with modern life—but there are still steps you can take to ensure that you are taking care of your gut health as much as possible! Small changes such as managing stress more effectively or getting better quality sleep could make a world of difference when it comes to keeping your tummy troubles at bay. As women especially, it's important we invest time in understanding what works best for us when it comes to looking after our bodies—especially our bellies!