Stress, Hormones and Digestion: Understanding Everyday Interactions

Stress, Hormones and Digestion: Understanding Everyday Interactions

Author: Megan Jones, BHSc (Nutritional Medicine), Adv. Dip. Nutritional Medicine, Adv. Dip. Western Herbal Medicine 

Daily life places constant demands on the body - from how and when we eat, to how we move, sleep and manage everyday pressures. Digestion, nutrient utilisation and internal signalling systems naturally respond to these inputs, adjusting throughout the day as part of normal physiology. Understanding these everyday interactions can make sense of why digestion can feel different from one day to the next, and how nutrition fits into these natural, constantly adapting systems.

Read on to explore how digestion functions in daily life, how internal signals such as hormones interact with digestive processes, and how specific nutrients contribute to normal physiological function.

1.How everyday pressures relate to digestion

The digestive system responds to a wide range of lifestyle factors, including meal timing, food variety, hydration and individual routines. Variations in these inputs may influence how digestion feels on a day-to-day basis.

Changes in routine can coincide with:

• Variations in gastric emptying
• Differences in gut transit time
• Shifts in digestive enzyme activity
• Perceived digestive comfort
• Natural fluctuations within the gut environment

These patterns reflect normal physiological variation and differ between individuals. Maintaining regular eating habits, adequate hydration and dietary variety can help support stable digestive rhythms and contribute to the maintenance of regular digestive function.

2. Everyday hormonal signals and digestion Hormones are part of the body’s internal communication network and influence many physiological processes, including digestion and metabolism.

• Normal daily hormonal fluctuations may be associated with:
• Variations in appetite
• Maintenance of normal blood glucose levels
• Typical digestive responses Changes in energy-related signalling

These interactions reflect how the body adapts to changing internal and external demands.

3. Digestive physiology and nutrient interactions

The gut-brain relationship

The digestive system contains its own network of neurons that communicates with the rest of the body. This communication supports normal gastrointestinal function and coordinated digestive activity.

The gut microbiome

The gut microbiome contributes to several aspects of normal digestive physiology, including:

• Digestive processes
• Breakdown of certain nutrients
• Production of microbial metabolites
• Support of the gut barrier*[1]

Dietary variety, particularly from plant-based foods, contributes to maintaining microbial diversity.

Hormonal interactions

Hormonal signals naturally fluctuate throughout the day and may align with changes in appetite, digestive rhythm and general metabolic processes.

Thyroid physiology

Thyroid hormones contribute to normal metabolic activity, influencing the pace of many physiological processes, including digestion and energy metabolism.

4. Nutrients that contribute to everyday physiology

Magnesium

Magnesium contributes to:

• Normal muscle function*[2]
• Normal energy metabolism*[2]
• Normal neurological function*[2]

Daily intake can vary depending on food choices, and magnesium utilisation and retention may also be influenced by periods of increased physiological demand, making consistency important over time.

B-vitamins

Vitamins B6, folate and B12 contribute to:

• Normal energy metabolism*[3]
• Normal red blood cell formation*[3]
• Normal nervous system function*[3]

These nutrients support the body’s natural biochemical processes involved in nutrient utilisation.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C contributes to:

• Normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin and cartilage*[4]
• Protection of cells from oxidative stress*[4]

Zinc

Zinc contributes to:

• Normal macronutrient metabolism*[5]
• Normal immune system function*[5]
• Normal cell division*[5]

Phytonutrients

Plant-derived compounds contribute to dietary variety and the presence of naturally occurring bioactive components within plant-based foods.

5. Everyday factors that influence digestive rhythm

Digestive rhythm is not fixed. It naturally varies in response to changes in sleep timing, meal composition, hydration status and daily activity levels. These shifts reflect normal physiological adaptability rather than dysfunction.

Maintaining consistent core habits - such as regular meals, adequate hydration and dietary variety - can help reduce unnecessary variability while still allowing the digestive system to respond to everyday demands.

6. Daily habits that support overall wellbeing

Balanced meals

Including complex carbohydrates, proteins, fats and fibre supports normal metabolic activity and digestive processes.

Gentle daily movement

Movement supports circulation and general physiological function.

Plant diversity

A variety of plant foods contributes to microbial diversity, which is involved in digestion and nutrient breakdown.

Consistent sleep routines

Regular sleep patterns support the body’s natural rhythms and overall wellbeing.

Supplementation when desired

Supplements can complement a varied diet by helping maintain consistent nutrient intake.

7. Where supplements fit in

Good Green Vitality

Good Green Vitality provides a broad spectrum of nutrients that contribute to:

• Normal energy metabolism*[3]
• Contributes to normal cell function*[4]
• Normal immune system function*[5]

It offers a convenient way to support daily nutritional intake as part of a balanced lifestyle.

Magnesium

Magnesium contributes to normal muscle and neurological function*[2] and can be a useful daily inclusion when dietary intake varies.

Inner Biome Blend

Inner Biome Blend provides targeted microbiome support, including:

• Ingredients that contribute to microbial diversity
• Plant fibres that support the gut microbiome environment
• Components involved in normal digestive processes

8. FAQs

Does routine affect digestion?

Daily habits such as eating patterns, sleep and movement can influence how digestion feels from day to day.

Which nutrients are involved in digestive physiology?

Magnesium, B-vitamins, zinc and vitamin C all contribute to normal bodily processes involved in digestion.*

Does the microbiome play a role in digestion?

Yes. The gut microbiome contributes to normal digestive function and nutrient breakdown.

Why does dietary variety matter?

A diverse intake of plant foods provides fibres that support a varied microbiome environment.

References

1.Penders, J., et al. (2013). Gut permeability, inflammation and the microbiota. Gut Microbes.

2.Gröber, U., et al. (2015). Magnesium in prevention and therapy. Nutrients.

3.Kennedy, D. O. (2016). B vitamins and the brain. Nutrients.

4.Carr, A. C., & Maggini, S. (2017). Vitamin C and immune function. Nutrients.

5.Calder, P. C. (2021). Nutrition and immunity. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Disclaimer

*As part of a healthy, varied diet. Statements refer to recognised nutritional functions and general physiological processes and are not intended to imply therapeutic benefit.