THE MYSTERIOUS POWER OF PAUSING

Whether it’s through saying grace or taking a simple moment for quiet reflection, there are real physiological benefits to pausing before each meal, thanks to the body’s autonomic nervous system (ANS). Put simply, the ANS is composed of two collaborating systems. The sympathetic and parasympathetic. The sympathetic system controls fear and stress, like your body’s fight or flight response, while the parasympathetic is focused more on relaxation, running basic resting and feeding related tasks like saliva production and digestion.

In a normal, healthy, relaxed body, the parasympathetic system is busier. But if you’re suffering from inflammation, or freighted by chronic stress, then the sympathetic system can take the steering wheel and will reroute your metabolic energy to address these stressors. The result? Blood flow is redirected away from the gut and that’s how digestive issues can start to creep in.

So before you dig into your next meal, make sure to put your parasympathetic system back in the driver’s seat. Take a reflective pause moment to relax, meditate on the meal before you, and, if it suits you, say a prayer. Your body will thank you.