How Deep Breathing Improves Digestion and Gut Health
When we think about digestion, we usually focus on food—what to eat, what to avoid, what might be causing symptoms. But there’s another, quieter player in the story of gut health, one that rarely gets the spotlight it deserves: our breath.
Take a moment. Is your breath shallow or deep? Do your shoulders rise with each inhale, or does your belly gently expand? Most of us rarely notice how we breathe, but it says a lot about how calm or tense we are.
When we’re stressed, anxious, or rushing through the day, our breathing often becomes shallow and centred in the chest. It’s quick, tight, and doesn’t draw in much oxygen.
The Hidden Connection
A few years ago, my family and I were displaced by a flood. Like thousands of others in our region, we had to leave our home and move from one temporary place to the next until we finally found somewhere safe again. While I’m grateful we got through it, the experience left its mark in ways I hadn’t expected.
As I tried to keep moving forward, I felt worn down—mentally and physically. My digestion, always a bit sensitive, became completely unpredictable. Bloating, discomfort, and sudden changes in bowel habits mirrored the chaos around me. It was then that I truly understood, beyond theory, just how deeply stress can disrupt the gut.