Breath & Stress on Gut Health

Chronic stress, depression and anxiety can all have a significantly detrimental effect on our physical and mental wellbeing, as well as our gut health.

We only have to think of how dry our mouth turns when we’re scared or how we have butterflies in our stomach and feel nauseous when we are anxious, to realise how mental anxiety, depression and stress effects the way our body works – ie our physiology.

This stress effect on both gut motility (peristalsis) and gut enzyme secretions leads to symptoms such as heart burn, bloating, abdominal pain, poor sleep, not to mention the disruption and imbalance of our gut microbiome, our immunity and more.

The brain and gut are intimately connected through a complex system of nerves called the autonomic nervous system, the sympathetic responsible for the ‘fight or flight’ stress response and the para sympathetic (the vagus nerve) responsible for ‘rest & digest’ calming and quietening the body. 

We are only just beginning to understand how these systems react with the third part of the autonomic nervous system, the enteric nervous system which governs these critical digestive functions. Also called the second brain, the enteric nervous system, developed from neural crest cells, communicates through neurons very similar to the central nervous system. Neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine (hormones that effect our mood and sense of wellbeing) mean this gut-brain axis is not one directional: poor gut health can impact on our mental and physical wellbeing and vice versa.

So, although complicated, one thing is clear… controlling stress and anxiety, as well as diet, is critical to maintaining a healthy gut and this, in turn, has a far reaching influence on the wellbeing of both body and mind.

Taking a slow deep breath also effects our physiology, switching off the stress response and, through the vagus nerve, bringing about quiet and calm. This effect can harness a significant wellbeing response, and learning how we can use our body’s ability to heal itself is the principal behind Bertioli Beauty bathing and breathing: it’s a supremely effective and empowering tool for life and we urge you to take that deep breath!