MOVING TOWARDS THE "WINDS" OF CHANGE

The morning after the Super Bowl game and how do you feel?  Is your stomach giving you hints?

Game day is all about enjoying time with friends, watching the game on the big screen and the piece de resistance…indulging in all the game tantalizing foodie tastes and textures of spicy, crunchy, sweet and chocolate!  

If you feel anything like me…your pants are tighter; you have a burning sensation in your stomach and possibly you are looking for the “tums” to settle the indigestion you seem to be encountering.  You are probably hearing the little voice in your head saying “What was I thinking.  Why did I eat so much?”

The digestive tract is an interesting system of the body.  According to the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation (CDHF) website, there is a correlation between our mood and how our gut feels.   It states that 72% of people who suffer from digestive discomfort relate that it effects them emotionally (31% say they’re not at their best, 25% say that they’re bad tempered and 15% feel unattractive).  They regard the intestinal tract as a “sensory” organ because it sends messages to your brain.  CDHF says that 36% of the general population can experience the most common digestive discomfort named “bloating”.[1]

One of the causes of bloating is the type of food and the size of the meal ingested.  CDHF indicates that an adult stomach can expand up to four times its normal size after a large meal holding nearly 2 litres of food.[2]  Therefore, when we stretch our stomach two problems can occur.  The first, is that our stomach acid can’t properly break down the food and the second is the digestive process can be compromised due to the in the lack of digestive enzymes being produced.[3] 

Can gas be the root of all “post-game” evil?  According to CDHF, the average person breaks wind 15 times a day and passes about 600 cc per day.  Men pass more wind than women – men (average 18 times a day), women (average 12 times a day).[4]

In Reflexology, we work on all systems of the body.  However, there are times when one system may show up in need of a little more attention; possibly from a bit of overindulgence.   When applying the techniques of Reflexology some clients may experience different sensations.  As a Reflexologist, being aware of how your client is receiving the treatment such as intestinal sounds, textures and sensitivities do play an important part.  Through a flow of routine movements and applying techniques to the digestive reflex points, the treatment aids in moving the body towards its natural state of “homeostasis” which allows the opportunity for increased circulation and to begin in releasing toxins and impurities.   

So the next time you are suffering from a little “overindulgence”, consider the health benefits through the natural art of Reflexology and experience the “winds of change” and ultimately a “happier you”.


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[1],2,4 Canadian Digestive Health Foundation
3 Enzymedica.com (Digest This!  - Justin Bohager)