IBS Lifestyle Choices

Meditation and Stress Mediation

Stress is a well-known trigger for IBS symptoms, and managing it effectively can significantly improve your digestive health. While avoiding stress altogether might not be possible given your busy lifestyle, you can incorporate stress-reducing practices into your routine. Begin by focusing on less stressful foods in your diet, choosing options that are gentle on your digestive system. Complement these dietary choices with breathing exercises and mindfulness practices. By acknowledging and becoming aware of your stress, you can learn to step back and observe its effects on your body. This mindful approach allows you to understand how stress impacts your well-being, giving you the power to manage it more effectively. Incorporating meditation and deep breathing into your daily routine can help you find calm amidst chaos, reducing the impact of stress on your IBS symptoms and promoting overall health. Sometimes when you are surrounded by stimuli it can feel like you cannot possibly focus on everything you need to attend to—both physically and mentally. This coterminous stress can often worsen IBS discomfort. In these situations, it is important to remember that your body is powerful, and that the impulse to rush through life is an illusion.

Yoga and Stretching

Stretch routines, including yoga, provide immediate physical and mental benefits (by stimulating digestive function and soothing your body), as well as being long-term positives as you look to make peace with the stress present all around us. Most quickly discover which stretches and poses they like the most, but we here at bellie have found great digestive solace in the cobra pose, child’s pose, and the spinal twist. Regular practice can enhance blood flow to the digestive tract, supporting gut health. Yoga also encourages mindfulness and breathing awareness, which can further alleviate stress-related IBS symptoms. Even more simple stretches—like touching your toes, or reaching up to the sky—can be terrific for some quick, out-of-the-home relief.

Exercise

Regular exercise is a must for your mental health and IBS symptoms. Exercise can make you feel less stuffed up by easing tension in your body. Exercise releases endorphins, which act as natural stress relievers, helping to mitigate this big IBS antagonist. Whether it’s walking, swimming, or cycling, incorporating moderate exercise into your daily routine can help maintain gut health, boost mood, and enhance overall well-being. Finding enjoyable physical activities can be an effective way to manage GI malaise and improve quality of life—all while increasing your confidence in your body.

Herbal Tea

Herbal teas are a terrific traditional response to IBS and its symptoms, with certain varieties known specifically for their digestive benefits. Peppermint tea is popular for its ability to relax the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract, alleviating cramps and discomfort. Ginger tea can reduce nausea and support digestion, while chamomile tea offers calming effects that can help manage stress. These herbal teas are caffeine-free, making them gentle on the stomach and ideal for regular consumption. Including herbal teas in your daily routine can provide a comforting ritual that supports digestion and contributes to a calmer gut environment. Check out our assortment of prebiotic-packed herbal teas here.

Be Patient, and feed your friends!

Those of us with IBS know one feeling more than all: frustration! IBS continues to get in the way of our lifestyle, and we wish we could run from it or kick it right in the face. Believe us, if this were possible, we’d be out here selling boxing gloves. Yet, the body works on its own clock, and can be more complicated than any normal person could possibly make sense of—especially with the bombardment of GI-related advice on today’s internet. Despite all these posts, podcasts, and promotions, we think that nature holds the treasure that we relentlessly search for. This led us to settle on HMO’s, the superfood of prebiotics (read our blog post about them here)—an ingredient that is biologically proven to promote the growth of bifidobacteria: nature’s best recruits for your belly. HMOs are like a bunch of microscopic boxing gloves for your digestive warriors, kind of.