The Overlooked Key to Better Digestion
(It’s Not a Supplement!)
The Overlooked Key to Feeling Better
Have you ever noticed that when your mind is racing, your digestion feels off too? Maybe you’re “chewing” on the same thought all day - i.e. “ruminating” - and when you finally sit down to eat, you feel bloated, not very hungry, or food just isn’t digesting well.
That’s not a coincidence. Overthinking and digestion are deeply connected. In fact, one of the most overlooked keys to health is something as simple as stomach acid. I know, exciting, right?! Stay with me here - this is important. I’ve had several patients showing up with low stomach acid lately, so this is top of mind for me, and correcting this can make a huge difference in your health.
Adequate stomach acid is essential for absorbing vital nutrients like iron, B12, and magnesium, and for defending against harmful bacteria, parasites, and other pathogens.
Low stomach acid can quietly undermine both digestion and overall health. In today’s stressed-out culture, low stomach acid is one of the hidden drivers of bloating, reflux, nutrient/mineral deficiencies, hair thinning, and more.
Simple Ways to Support Stomach Acid & Calm the Mind
Inspired by Marc David’s The Slow Down Diet and Cathleen King’s Primal Trust Program, here are some simple, high-impact shifts you can make right away:
Pause before eating.
Take three deep breaths, say a prayer, or pause feel your feet on the ground. This switches your body into a parasympathetic state & helps begin effective digestion.Slow down, chew thoroughly.
Chewing tells your stomach, “Food is coming—light the fire.” Aim for 20–30 chews per bite.Engage your senses.
Look at your food, smell it, savor it. Anticipation itself boosts stomach acid.Eat with pleasure.
When you slow down and savor your food with pleasure, your nervous system shifts into rest-and-digest mode, boosting stomach acid and enzymes so your meal becomes true nourishment for your brain, your energy, and your whole body.Try bitters.
A few bites of bitter greens (like dandelion greens) or some herbal bitters 10-15 minutes before meals helps boost your digestive fire. I like Quicksilver Scientific Bitters #9.Interrupt thought loops.
When you catch yourself ruminating, try the Primal Trust pattern interrupt: “Stop. Cancel. Be here.” This simple reset pulls you out of the mental loop and back into your body. This will help your body naturally boost stomach acid production.One caution: Some people benefit from Betaine HCl, a stomach acid supplement, but it can actually be harmful if you have H. pylori, which is surprisingly common and often goes undetected. I recommend not supplementing with Betaine HCl unless you’ve ruled out H. pylori.
Hopeful Takeaway
The best part? This isn’t complicated. You don’t need a perfect diet or another supplement to support your digestion today. I really see it as getting back into a more natural human rhythm - it benefits us on so many levels.
Your mind and gut are always in conversation. When you calm one, you strengthen the other. With small, daily shifts, your body begins coming back into harmony.
Christy Mawdsley
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, worry and overthinking weaken the Spleen and Stomach - the body’s center of digestion. Mentally “chewing” on life all day makes it harder to actually chew and digest food.
And if you’re overthinking, your body often stays stuck in chronic stress activation, which literally turns off stomach acid production. As you can see, it’s a feedback loop.