Ever noticed that an upset stomach hits on the least convenient days? Queasiness before a big presentation, while you’re traveling, or leading up to a first date (yep, been there) isn’t just bad timing—your stress levels can actually induce nausea.
Why? According to registered dietitian Alyssa Lavy, MS, RD, CDN, CPT, there’s a major connection between your brain and gut. “Our enteric nervous system, which is often referred to as our little brain or second brain, is a complex network within our gut that receives input from the central nervous system and acts independently,” she says.
That connection can become all too obvious in stressful situations. “When we experience increased stress or anxiety, our sympathetic nervous system—often called our fight-or-flight system—is activated and releases hormones that can have physiological impacts on many body systems,” Lavy says. “In our digestive tract, these signals interact with our enteric nervous system and can trigger gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.”
A rumbly stomach probably isn’t your preferred water-cooler chatter, but this anxiety-nausea relationship is more common than you might think. The peer-reviewed medical journal General Hospital Psychiatry surveyed people living with an anxiety disorder or depression, and 48 percent of them reported at least one gastrointestinal complaint during the previous year.
So you’re not alone, and it’s not a coincidence—but that doesn’t mean you have to grin and bear it every time you’re feeling anxious. According to Lavy, a few simple ingredients can help —and Advanced Herbals Nausea + Stress Support, from the makers of Dramamine®, is serving them up in one simple lozenge.
Ready to give your mind and body some ease? Check out Lavy’s guide to ingredients that can help you manage your nausea and stress.
Leave a Reply