The 5 Strange Habits That Fixed My Digestion When Nothing Else Worked
PLUS: 100 Ancestral-Based Snack Ideas
Hi friends!!
Okay, I want to share something that might sound a little strange at first, but stick with me because these five little tricks have honestly made a bigger difference in how I feel than some of the major nutrition changes I've made over the years.
As many of you know, I used to be in this phase where I felt like I was doing everything "right" with my nutrition but still felt kind of... meh. You know that feeling? Like you're eating well, taking your supplements, but your energy is still inconsistent and your digestion feels really off?
So, along with changes in my nutrition, I started digging into some of the more unconventional health practices—the kind of stuff that sounds weird when you first hear about it but has actually been used for centuries!!
Most health advice focuses on the big picture stuff:
eat real food,
get enough sleep,
move your body.
But sometimes it's these tiny, specific adjustments that unlock everything else!! It's like your body was 90% of the way there, and these hacks provided that final 10% that made everything click.
I absolutely LOVE finding new health hacks.
I've been testing these five practices for the past few months and they've become such a natural part of my routine that I almost forget how odd they probably sound to someone hearing them for the first time!
Also - stick around until the end! I am sharing my 100 Ancestral-Inspired Snack Ideas PDF — complementary to my paid subscribers as a thank you for your dedicatoin to my newsletter :)
Hack #1: Put a Pinch of Sea Salt Under Your Tongue 10 Minutes Before Meals
This one sounds so random, but it's actually brilliant. I learned about this from a functional medicine practitioner who explained that placing salt under your tongue activates your salivary glands and gets your digestive enzymes flowing before you even start eating.
Here's what I do: about 10 minutes before I sit down for a meal, I put a small pinch of good sea salt (I use Celtic or Redmond Real Salt or pink Himalayan) under my tongue and let it dissolve.
The mineral content basically signals to your body that food is coming and starts the whole digestive process :)
The difference is noticeable!! My food tastes better, I feel more satisfied, and I don't get that heavy, sluggish feeling after eating. Just gotta learn to listen.
It's like giving your digestive system a heads up so it can prepare properly.
Hack #2: Eat Your Largest Meal Standing Up Once a Week
There's actually fascinating research behind this one. Eating while standing improves something called gastric emptying—basically how efficiently your stomach processes food.
Once or twice a week (usually Sunday lunch or at my standing desk - without distractions), I like to eat my biggest meal of the day while standing. I'm not talking about scarfing down food on the go—I still eat slowly and mindfully, just upright instead of sitting.
The benefits are pretty immediate. I feel less bloated afterward, and my energy stays more stable throughout the afternoon. There's something about gravity working with your digestive system instead of against it that just makes sense.
Hack #3: Chew Each Bite Exactly 32 Times
Want to know the other 3 hacks that completely transformed how my body responds to food? The next three are honestly the most game-changing ones! Plus, I'm including my complete 100 Snack Ideas guide at the end :)