Amy’s Friday Favorites 💜
Up next in my Friday Favorites series is the diaphragmatic breathing technique. Watch or read along to learn more:
Diaphragmatic Breathing For Your Gut
Diaphragmatic breathing is very regulating for the whole nervous system and it’s also really regulating for your gut. I use it myself when I’m nauseated or when other gut symptoms strike and I’ve seen it be very helpful for many of my gut health patients as well.
How To Do Diaphragmatic Breathing
To do a diaphragmatic breath place one hand on your chest and one hand on your stomach. Then you breathe in through your nose, and your stomach should expand like a balloon while your chest stays still. On the out breath through your mouth your stomach will go in towards your spine and, again, your chest stays still.
Take It Slow
This type of breathing is also called deep belly breathing. And it’s most helpful when it’s not just deep breaths, but slow breaths. So take your time with it.
Give It A Try
It can be helpful to take diaphragmatic breaths in response to gut symptoms like nausea, an urgent need to have a bowel movement, rumbling stomach, bloating, anything. Sometimes it can take the sensation away completely, other times it can at least help to lessen the severity of it.
Give this breathing technique a try! And be sure to check back next Friday for more of my Friday Favorites.
Amy Slabaugh, RDN is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Intuitive Eating Counseling serving Oakland, the Bay Area and all of California. She offers online nutrition counseling as well as in-person workplace wellness services. She specializes in gut health, Intuitive Eating and weight neutral nutrition care.
