Have you ever noticed bloating, cramps, reflux, constipation or loose stools during a stressful week? You are not imagining it. Stress affects digestion because the gut and brain are constantly communicating through nerves, hormones, immune signals and the microbiome. Your digestive system does not work separately from the rest of your body. When life feels overwhelming, your nervous system can shift into a protective state. In that state, digestion may become less of a prior