How Stress Impacts Digestion & Nutrient Absorption by Mack Bruce
/Stress impacts human bodies in numerous ways whether through the cardiovascular, digestive, immune, musculoskeletal, nervous and brain, and reproductive and endocrine systems. Chronic-stress can trigger long-term issues such as hypertension, heart disease, digestive problems (Irritable Bowel Syndrome [IBS], ulcers), weakened immunity, sleep disorders, and mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, via the activation of the body’s “fight-or-flight” response through hormones like cortisol. Particularly, stress negatively affects digestion and nutrient absorption generally. While stress is not necessarily the prime cause of digestion and nutrient absorption issues, stress plays a fundamental role in how symptoms develop and persist. So stress is important to manage for both bodily regulation and overall health.
Digestion & Nutrient Absorption
Chronic stress can directly trigger or worsen digestive problems (IBS, ulcers) through the gut–brain connection. The gut–brain axis links the nervous system, hormones, and digestion, so chronic stress can alter gut motility, increase visceral hypersensitivity (gut pain sensitivity), and disrupt the gut microbiome—changes that intensify IBS symptoms and make them harder to predict. Activation of the stress response can also lead to bloating, cramping, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, and more frequent IBS flare‑ups. Moreover, stress inhibits nutrient absorption by diverting blood and energy away from the gut, thereby reducing digestive juices (acid, enzymes, bile), slowing gut motility, weakening the intestinal barrier (‘leaky gut’), and disrupting the gut microbiome. This consequently vitiates the breakdown and uptake of minerals (magnesium, calcium) and vitamins (B, D) while simultaneously increasing their excretion and demand, resulting in potential deficiencies.
Conclusion
Stress may not be the primary cause of digestive or nutrient‑absorption issues; however, chronic stress can influence how digestive symptoms develop and persist, as well as the efficiency of nutrient absorption. The impact of stress on health should not be underestimated. Managing stress is important not only for mental wellness but also for physical health and overall well‑being.