| Staying well—mentally and physically—can feel like an uphill climb in our fast-paced world. One major reason is stress. Chronic stress doesn’t just affect our digestion of food—it disrupts how we digest life. And here’s the tricky part: when we’re under stress, losing weight becomes almost impossible.Why? Because stress activates the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight), increasing cortisol levels. Cortisol slows down digestion and tells the body to hold on to fat, especially around the belly. It also impacts the gut-brain axis, throwing off the delicate balance of hormones and neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. The body starts storing rather than releasing, surviving rather than thriving.Tantra main purpose was to give us practices to help us ‘digest’ life and return to meaning and presence. Ayurveda, too, begins with metabolism—not just food, but our emotions and life experiences.Ayurveda sees most diseases as rooted in a weakened metabolism. Modern science now agrees. This is why Ayurveda starts any healing process with a cleanse—so that the body can return to its natural intelligence: building, breaking down, storing, and transforming energy.When metabolism is strong, we naturally produce and regulate mood-enhancing chemicals:GABA calms anxietyDopamine boosts motivationSerotonin supports sleep and emotional balanceSo how do we support our metabolism?Eat for your constitution (dosha): What’s ‘healthy’ for one person may be bloating for another. Knowing your constitution helps you create a diet and rhythm that feels nourishing, not depleting.Hydration: Even slight dehydration slows metabolism. Sip warm water through the day.Move wisely: Strength training, walking, or yin yoga depending on your age, constitution, and cycle. Menopause is a cycle, too—tune in.Mindful breathing & eating: Pranayama soothes the nervous system and stimulates the vagus nerve. Eating calmly helps the body absorb nutrients instead of storing fat. |
Ways you can stay centred while being triggered
