Each time I have used this little ritual, especially if I am feeling overwhelmed, I have felt calmer and had more clarity on the issue or inquiry at hand.

Stress is a part of life that can actually have some positive effects that support our survival and growth. Yet many of us have become so accustomed to operating in a heightened state of “fight or flight” that we have become desensitized to stress and its effects on our body.

My embarrassing struggle with gut health began during my teenage years with discomfort, gas and uncontrollable belching. By age 22, I was on a prescription proton pump inhibitor and undergoing extensive testing for stomach and esophageal problems.