5-Senses Sunday
The 5 Things Rocking my 5-Senses This Week
Taste:
The Cephalic Phase of Digestion
Most people think digestion starts in the stomach, but it actually kicks off long before you even take a bite. It’s called the cephalic phase of digestion—a fancy term for the brain’s role in jumpstarting the digestive process. When you catch the scent of fresh-baked bread or your eyes light up at the sight of your favorite dish, your brain sends signals to your body to get ready. Salivary glands activate, digestive enzymes start flowing, and your stomach begins preparing for the food on the way.
But here's the catch: if you're eating on autopilot—rushing through meals or letting guilt overshadow your food choices—you’re skipping out on this crucial first phase of digestion. By slowing down and truly savoring each bite, you’re allowing your body to do what it’s designed to do. Chewing thoroughly not only releases more flavor but also primes your digestive system for better nutrient absorption.
Next time you're about to dive into that treat, pause and let your senses do their thing. The cephalic phase is your body’s way of saying, “Let’s make this meal count!” Give it time to engage, chew longer, and let those flavors dance on your tongue.
Scent:
Bergamot
Have you ever noticed how certain scents can instantly shift your entire mood?
There's truly fascinating science behind this.
When you inhale an aroma—whether it's fresh-baked cookies, morning coffee, or fragrant flowers—receptors in the upper part of your nose pick up these scents and send signals directly to your limbic system, the emotional command center of your brain.
This direct connection to your emotional brain explains why scents can affect us so powerfully and immediately. Unlike other senses that take the scenic route through multiple brain regions, scent has an express lane straight to your emotions and memories.
On Tuesday evening and throughout Wednesday, I was extremely stressed due to the shock of the election results. When I’m in a fight-or-flight response (or, in this case, a freeze response, where I ended up sleeping most of the day), I often rely on essential oils and candles to calm my nervous system and feel more grounded.
I pulled out all my grounding and self-care techniques on Wednesday: the Panic SOS practice on Calm.com, breathwork, sleeping, taking a warm bath, exercising, going for a nature walk, and calling my closest friends who were feeling similarly overwhelmed.
Nothing seemed to be working.
Finally, I remembered that Bergamot is one of those scents that instantly perks me up and shifts my mood.
Bergamot has a fresh, citrusy, and slightly floral scent that's often described as bright and uplifting. It’s like a blend of sweet orange and zesty lemon, with subtle floral and herbal undertones. It's not as sharp or tangy as pure lemon or lime but has a more complex, delicate fragrance profile with a slight bitterness reminiscent of grapefruit rind.
I won’t say it completely turned my mood around or lessened my existential dread, but it did help me break out of the freeze response, which allowed me to decide to take a walk outside. That, in turn, helped me take the next step forward.
When we're overwhelmed, panicked, or dealing with a real or perceived crisis, all we want is to rid ourselves of that sense of fear as quickly as possible. But it's important to remember that even small reductions in fear or panic can help bring your prefrontal cortex back online, guiding you to gather your resources and take the next best step for yourself in that moment.
Here are some other scents known to calm the nervous system and reduce stress:
Lavender
Lemon balm
Your partner's worn t-shirt
Chamomile
Sandalwood
Jasmine
Clary Sage
Ylang-Ylang
What are specific scents that affects your mood or energy?
Sound:
If you’re a music buff, and/or a singer like me but never actually learned how to read music or know anything about music theory, listen up!
This free music theory app helps you read, learn and play music —on your own schedule and on your own terms.
Touch:
Ever notice how certain moments give you goosebumps, like your skin suddenly waking up to the world around it? Goosebumps are your body's little way of saying, "Whoa, that was intense!"—a physical reaction triggered by a flood of emotion, a blast of cold air, or even just the perfect note in your favorite song.
It's like your sense of touch gets a little thrill. Maybe it's the brush of a loved one’s hand, the whisper of wind on a crisp fall morning, or the spine-tingling scene from a suspenseful movie. Our skin is wired for sensation, and sometimes it responds in ways that surprise us, reminding us we're alive, connected, and fully in the moment.
Goosebumps are like nature’s exclamation point, turning up when something touches us deeper than we expected.
What gives you goosebumps?
Sight:
I think I’ve watched this 100 times already.
Tell me. What is rocking YOUR 5-senses this week? I’d love to know in the comments.