Digestion Starts in the Brain: What Every Practitioner Should Know

Why Digestion Starts in the Brain

People are becoming much more informed about their food choices. Clients often come in proudly telling me they're following a Mediterranean diet, a keto diet, or another popular eating plan. Yet rarely do they talk about how they're eating that food.

One of the key concepts I frequently need to teach is that digestion doesn't start in the stomach. It doesn't even start in the mouth. Digestion starts in the brain with nervous system stimulation.

I often explain that taking time to eat is at least as important as what they're eating. Just as importantly, what they're thinking and their emotional state before they take the first bite have a profound influence on how well that food will be digested.

What the Irides Can Reveal About Digestive Tendencies

The eyes hold clues. Specific indicators in the irides can help us understand whether someone has a stronger tendency to hold onto stress or to react more intensely to it. Other iris indicators can point to inherited tendencies related to insufficient hydrochloric acid (HCl) and pepsin production in the stomach. Sharing these observations from a client's eyes often helps reinforce just how crucial how food is eaten can be.

Once clients begin to understand the nervous system's role in digestion, we can move on to another fundamental principle: chewing.

Why Chewing Matters More Than Most People Realize

Poorly chewed food simply doesn't digest well. In our modern, fast-paced lifestyle, we often rush through meals without giving enough attention to chewing thoroughly. The old advice to chew each bite about 30 times may sound outdated, but there's still a great deal of wisdom in it.

Supporting Digestion Beyond Supplements

Mindful eating and thorough chewing are foundational to healthy digestion. Many people will also benefit from digestive support or targeted supplements, and these certainly have their place. However, even the best digestive supplements cannot do their job fully if the nervous system, the brain, and the mouth aren't doing theirs first.

Simple Habits That Improve Digestion

I often encourage my clients to sit down at a table for meals, pause for a few moments to express gratitude before they begin eating, and remain at the table for at least 20 minutes, taking the time to eat slowly and chew thoroughly. This simple practice creates the time and space needed to chew food properly while helping shift the nervous system into a state that's more conducive to digestion.

I also encourage them to create a calm, peaceful atmosphere at mealtime whenever possible.

How Do You Help Clients Eat More Mindfully?

I'm curious—what strategies do you use to help your clients pay attention not only to what they eat, but also to their mindset while eating and how well they chew?