3 Factors That Affect Your Digestion — Other Than Food — From A Gut Health Expert

When we think about our digestion and the factors that affect it, we probably think of times a certain meal upset our stomach or a particular food left us bloated. But according to gut health expert Megan Rossi, Ph.D., R.D. (aka The Gut Health Doctor on Instagram), there are three other sneaky things that can affect our digestion under the radar as well. Here's what to know:

And as a holistic nutritionist and gut health expert, Lindsay Boyers previously wrote for mbg, "Research shows that a lack of sleep contributes to stress, which can lead to an imbalance of good and bad bacteria. On the flip side, getting enough sleep (around seven to nine hours per night for adults3) can help you manage the physical effects of stress, promoting healthy gut balance."

"Stress can impact the digestive process. It can also cause stomach discomfort," licensed psychotherapist Gina Simmons Schneider, Ph.D., previously wrote for mindbodygreen, adding that stomach upset can increase the environment for the growth of unhealthy bacteria in the gut. "Harmful bacteria trigger a discordant cascade of unpleasant side effects," she adds.

As a 2017 review published in Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity5 explains, numerous studies point to exercise enhancing the number of beneficial microbial species, enriching gut microflora diversity, and improving the development of commensal bacteria. "All these effects are beneficial for the host, improving its health status," the review authors note.

Along with getting quality sleep, finding ways to decompress, and having an active lifestyle, you can support your gut health—and digestion—with a quality probiotic, like mindbodygreen's probiotic+. The unique formula features a combination of four clinically studied strains, which help ease bloating, aid digestion, and holistically support your gut microbiome.*

As Rossi tells mbg, "Indeed sleep, stress, and exercise—all independent of diet affect—our gut microbiome." And that means quality sleep, less stress, and more movement are the name of the game. When those bases are covered, our gut health, and digestion, are sure to benefit.