Have you ever noticed that when you're faced with a stressful situation-say, an impending deadline at the office or financial troubles at home-that your insides take a turn for the worse? The bad news is that it's no coincidence. Stress is one of several reasons why your body doesn't digest food properly. The good news, however, is that there is something you can do about it, and the first step is learning to understand how your body works.

All of your body's unconscious activity is controlled by the autonomic nervous system, which controls the digestive system as well as the way (or ways) in which you react to stress. Typically, when your stress level increases, your body will divert energy, blood, enzymes and oxygen away from the digestive organs. As a result, the digestive process comes to standstill as the body deals with the stressful situation at hand. If allowed to continue over an extended period of time, this cycle can lead to serious digestive issues.

The three types of stress that can affect your body are physical, emotional and mental stress. Physical stress is tangible and can include infection, injury, drug and alcohol use, and environmental pollution. Mental and emotional stress are both intangible but can be just as debilitating. They include financial worries, domestic problems, or unfulfilled career aspirations and can place a tremendous strain on your overall well-being. Because all three types of stress can have a profound impact on the digestive process, it is extremely important when eating to cultivate a relaxed state of mind. This ensures unimpaired blood circulation, which is necessary for the digestive organs to function properly. Simple lifestyle changes may also help reduce stress and thereby promote healthy digestion. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

•Give yourself a little extra time: Set your alarm clock 10 or 15 minutes earlier each morning to ensure that you have plenty of time to eat a healthy breakfast before beginning your day.

•Eat healthy foods: A well-balanced diet that includes plenty of high-fiber fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains can help keep your hormones in check and reduce the emotional eating that often accompanies stressful situations. Purchase organic foods whenever possible to reduce your exposure to harmful pesticides, and avoid processed foods and refined carbohydrates that may lead to indigestion, gas and bloating.

•Exercise: Clinical studies have proven that a daily dose of moderate exercise (at least 30 minutes per day) has profound anti-stress effects on the body. Plus, a regular workout program can not only help boost your energy and clear your mind, but it may also help reduce your chances of suffering serious physical injury.

•Just breathe: Deep breathing is one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce stress. Whenever tension arises, try the following exercise: Stop what you are doing, place your hands on your abdomen and close your eyes. Take a deep breath, inhaling through your nose and holding it for a few seconds before exhaling slowly through your mouth. Repeat at least ten times, mentally focusing on letting go of the tension.

Regardless of your age or body weight, integrating these changes into your daily routine may help your body combat the effects of physical, mental and emotional stress and in turn improve your digestive health now and in the future.