How Posture Can Impact the Way You Enjoy Your Food

November 24, 2023

We talk a lot about the body from a holistic perspective, like how one imbalance or issue can trigger another imbalance or issue that may seem completely unrelated. Take, for example, the myriad effects that posture has on our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Research has shown that poor posture results in more than just being a (literal) pain in the neck. Too much sitting, standing, or slouching can have unexpected risks like headaches, high blood pressure, and reduced focus. Heck, poor posture can even be a hindrance to your dating life. But have you considered the effects of how you sit (or stand) on the way you enjoy food?  The simple everyday pleasure of eating and drinking can be significantly diminished if you’re in an uncomfortable position. The poorer your posture, the less flavorful your food—and the more likely you’ll experience indigestion, too. Here’s what researchers have found when it comes to posture and your taste perception. POSTURE AND TASTE PERCEPTION  A 2019 study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that your posture can actually impact your taste perception. Simply put: food tastes better when you’re sitting down [1]. The researchers looked at the connection between the vestibular sense—which is linked to the inner ear and is responsible for balance, posture, and spatial orientation—and the gustatory sensory system, which enables you to taste and detect flavors. They found that the increased physical stress of standing, even for just a few minutes, dulls the taste buds. This all comes down to gravity: When standing, blood rushes to the lower part of your body, making the heart work harder to pump blood back up the body. This accelerates your heart rate and activates the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis, which releases the stress hormone cortisol. With all this hard work happening in your body, the sensitivity of your senses reduces. This ultimately impacts how you perceive the taste and temperature of food and drinks.  Essentially, discomfort in the body takes away from the pleasure you experience on the palate. This conclusion came from a variety of tests throughout the study. First, the 350 participants rated the tastiness of a pita chip. Those who were standing rated it lower than those seated in a padded chair. The same results were found with brownies. However, something interesting happened when the baker added more salt to the brownies. Participants standing up rated the saltier brownies higher. This led the researchers to believe that the extra physical stress of standing caused a reduction in their taste perception (i.e. they didn’t notice the oversaltiness). To validate this finding further, they gave all participants a shopping bag to hold while trying fruit snacks. Both those sitting and standing reported that the extra baggage made the snacks taste worse.  Beyond flavor, posture also impacted the participants’ perception of temperature. Those standing up reported the heat of the coffee to be less intense than those sitting down. They also drank less coffee, suggesting that increased physical stress decreases the desire to eat or drink more.  Another study found similar results, with one twist: When relaxing ambient music was played, posture had less of an effect on taste perception [2]. So, what does this all mean? That comfort is a vital component to appreciating your food. And comfort starts with not only sitting down, but sitting down with good posture—which also comes into play post-meal. POSTURE AND DIGESTION The entirety of enjoying a meal, from the immediate gratification on the tongue to the full digestive process, can be highly impacted by your posture. If you’re slouching while or after eating, you may be spending the rest of the day or night with acid reflux and heartburn. The more you lean forward, the more you constrict the vital organs of the gastrointestinal tract. Putting pressure on the abdomen causes stomach acid to flow back up and cause that uncomfortable burning sensation in the chest [3].   In general, poor posture slows down digestion and also hampers nerves in the back that help allow for proper functioning in the stomach and lower intestines. Over time, poor posture can even have a serious impact on your gut health.  POSTURE AND THE ART OF A GOOD MEAL Simple pleasures, like appreciating a good meal, are key to living a happier, more fulfilled life. And, yes, there’s scientific evidence for that, too. One study from the University of Chicago found that simple pleasures can help people better deal with stress and face challenges [4].  If there’s one thing you can control, it’s how much care you put into those simple pleasures. If you’re standing, slouching, or slumping while eating, there’s a good chance your food will not be nearly as satisfying. You may also end up struggling to even digest it. These are just a few more undeniable reasons to keep working on that posture!  If you need a little extra help, the Etalon Posture Bra promotes better alignment, postural awareness, and muscle memory over time. It’s comfortable, too. Try wearing it during your next special meal and don’t forget to savor every last bite. https://academic.oup.com/jcr/article-abstract/46/4/708/5488173 https://pure.psu.edu/en/publications/the-influence-of-posture-on-taste-an-abstract https://americanpostureinstitute.com/your-heartburn-isnt-just-from-your-food-its-from-your-posture/ https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/688287

Holiday Wellness Gift Guide: Self-Care For Every Budget

November 11, 2023

The end of 2023 is coming fast! Are you ready for it? We invite you to schedule some time for yourself to start reflecting on the past year. How are you feeling? Have you done enough for yourself? What can you work on in the coming year? Self-care doesn’t have to be an overwhelming proposition — even just one small change to your daily routine can make a significant difference in your well-being.  To help give you some inspiration, we’ve carefully curated this wellness gift guide with items that we personally use and love. Here are some affordable ways to treat your loved ones — and yourself! — this holiday season.   Seaweed-Based Underwear by Esme Price: Thongs and full coverage briefs start at $24 Who knew mineral-rich seaweed could be just as good to wear as it is to eat? These innovative, sustainable undergarments by Esme — a woman-led company inspired by the founder's 94-year-old grandmother of the same name — are breathable, antibacterial, and more absorbent than cotton. They’re also silky, sexy, and surprisingly comfortable.   Luxurious Exfoliators and Masks from Botanic Affair Price: Individual mask packets start at $7; other products around $25-$85 Botanic Affair carries a cornucopia of natural, sustainably sourced skincare and we especially love their wide selection of exfoliators and masks. A few we recommend: Nini Organics’ Natura Miracle Mask (a nutrient-rich fusion of cacao, coconut, Australian pink clay, and superfoods like spirulina) and Shiva Rose’s Pistachio Cardamom Plumping Mask (a Mediterranean mix of pistachio, olive, grape skin, and pomegranate oils). You can also try one-use packets, like Botnia’s Sulfur Mask, which mixes sulfur and oats.   Classic and Athletic Insoles by Fulton Price: One pair of insoles for $48 Fulton crafts comfortable insoles with custom-molding arch support and shock-absorbing cork that prevents pronation and supination and offers pain relief. The Classic Insole provides maximum stability and can help reduce foot, back and knee pain, as well as plantar fasciitis. The Athletic Insole does the same, with a slightly different design for high impact and performance.   Menstrual Discs by PlumThyme Price: Full Bundle (2 Discs + Case) for $49.90 The woman-owned PlumThyme specializes in zero-waste period care. Made from 100% medical-grade silicon, the PlumThyme Disc is designed to last for 10 years. It sits right below the cervix for ultimate comfort and protection during your period. You can wear it for up to 12 hours at a time. The Full Bundle is a great deal — it comes with two discs and a Sterilize & Store Case. Annual Face Yoga Subscription by Luvly Price: One year subscription without trial for $49.99 Face yoga uses massage and acupressure techniques to help boost circulation, release tension, and improve lymphatic drainage. The Luvly app recommends 15-minute daily beauty rituals, including personalized face yoga programs, specific exercises and massages, and even customized meal plans and skin care help.   Plant Pots & Stands by Priene HOME Price: Pots starting at $69 Self-care is not just limited to your mind and body but your environment, too. Houseplants can have some powerful health benefits [1], including reduced stress and anxiety and increased focus and self-esteem. Adding a little green to your home can help boost your mood and your space. To give your plants a modern touch, we love the sleek, minimalist handcrafted plant pots and stands from Priene HOME.  Bamboo Sonic Brushing Set by Better & Better Price: Full oral care set for $89.99 Better & Better create natural, vegan, and eco-friendly oral care products that can help brighten up your smile. The company’s Bamboo Sonic Brushing Set has everything you need to give your teeth a daily deep clean. It comes with a rechargeable bamboo electric toothbrush with five cleaning modes, a toothpaste sampler pack, and natural floss in a refillable glass jar. Posture Bra & Bands by Etalon Price: Bands at $25.99 and Bra at $199 We couldn’t help but share our very own self-care must-have! The award-winning Etalon Posture Bra is orthopedist-approved and chiropractor-loved. It’s a fashionable posture corrector that helps you develop better alignment at your own pace. Just see the 50+ five-star reviews from our lovely customers here. Our new Posture Bands are also great to have in your self-care kit.  START YOUR POSTURE JOURNEY WITH ETALON NOW    Ergonomic Kneeling Chairs by Sleekform Price: Kneeling Chairs for $230 Sleekform’s mission is simple: to offer streamlined, body-friendly, cost-efficient ergonomic furniture — and they do it well. If you’re a fan of our posture products, you’ll definitely want to check out their selection of kneeling chairs. The seat is tilted at a 120° angle to push your hips forward, engage your core, and take the pressure off of your lower back. This simple change in your office furniture can make a world of difference on your well-being.     FOUNDER’S FAVORITES And here are a few of Etalon founder Kristina Rudzinskaya’s personal faves: Daily Face Cream by Botnia Price: 50-ml container at $66 Botnia’s innovative skincare comprises botanicals grown on local and organic farms, and is developed by herbalists, skincare scientists, and estheticians in the cozy seaside town of Sausalito. Their Daily Face Cream combines jojoba seed oil, rose, and hyaluronic acid for a toning and tightening cream that leaves the skin with a radiant glow.   Bakuchiol + Niacinamide Anti-Aging Cream by Regelica Price: 2-oz tube at $72 Regelica’s anti-aging cream works to visibly correct signs of aging by using botanical ingredients that help improve your skin’s density, strengthen your skin barrier, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines — all without causing irritation. It’s a potent blend with potent effects.