"If you eat standing up, death is looking over your shoulder," claims an Ayurvedic proverb. How often do you eat standing up? Without mindfulness and in a hurry?

A relaxed situation while eating is important to get the digestive juices going properly.

Ayurveda places great emphasis not only on what we eat, but how we eat. There is great agreement among nutrition experts about the benefits of quality food. But what about the right way to eat?

Vegetative nervous system

Our digestive system is largely controlled by the autonomic nervous system. This consists of two parts with completely opposite functions: The "sympathetic nervous system", which is responsible for stress reactions, and the "parasympathetic nervous system", which is responsible for relaxation and regeneration.

Sympathetic nervous system

Whether you are physically threatened like a prehistoric man fleeing from a sabre-toothed tiger, or time pressure and office stress are plaguing you, every stressful event triggers a fight-flight reflex in the sympathetic nervous system. An activated sympathetic nervous system blocks the digestive system. Digestion slows down, food and vital substances can neither be properly processed nor absorbed. The fight-flight reflex just makes us ready to fight or flee. This is a situation where the body has no time to deal with food. This can only happen when relaxation has returned and the parasympathetic nervous system dominates nerve activity.

Relaxation reflex and digestion

As soon as the stress is over, the influence of the sympathetic nervous system on digestion diminishes and the parasympathetic nervous system activates the relaxation reflex. And this rest and relaxation reflex also triggers effective digestive activity in the stomach. That is why it is absolutely necessary to eat in a relaxed situation. Eating while standing, walking, when you are angry or under time pressure takes place under the influence of the sympathetic nervous system and prevents effective digestive activity. The rest and relaxation reflex triggers the following reactions in the digestive system:

• Salivation

• Improved taste perception

• Improved olfactory perception that stimulates appetite for food

• Stimulates the production of digestive enzymes in the stomach, pancreas and small intestine

• Stimulates the production of hydrochloric acid, mucus and pepsin in the stomach

• Increases the flow of bile juices

• Activates peristalsis (forward movement of food in the digestive tract)

• Improves blood supply and lymph flow throughout the digestive tract

Relaxation more effective than any digestive medication

There is no single medicinal plant or drug that has as many beneficial effects on the digestive system as relaxation. That is why Ayurveda says that it is better not to eat at all when you are stressed. Stress leads to the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which does exactly the opposite of the parasympathetic nervous system, without which digestion does not function properly.

Eat in peace and with mindfulness

So only in quiet surroundings and while sitting can the parasympathetic nervous system trigger effective digestive activity. Consciously noticing the colour, smell and taste of food promotes a healthy and well-functioning digestive system, as does relaxation.

At home and during your lunch break on work days, be sure to eat in peace. If you do, you will stay healthy and well for a long time.