The stress you experience every day may be making itself known in your intestines.


Gastroenterologist Roshini Raj joined HuffPost Live's Nancy Redd[1] to discuss the way mental tension can negatively affect the digestion process.


"There is a very strong connection between our brains and our guts," Raj said.


The doctor clarified that it's a myth that stress causes ailments like ulcers, but it does make them much worse if they've already developed in the body.


"The same neurotransmitters that we release when we're anxious or stressed can cause our intestines to either start churning and move too quickly, which could cause diarrhea, or even the opposite: It could move too slowly and cause constipation," she said. "Pretty much any [gastrointestinal] condition across the board can be made worse by stress."


Catch the full conversation about how healthy digestion can make you happier at HuffPost Live HERE[2] .



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  • 9. Curling


    265 calories per hour

    Like shuffleboard on ice, this game is more pastime than sport. And while it's associated with older athletes thanks to its low intensity and easy pace, occasional low impact activity can benefit everyone.




  • 8. Ice Fishing


    273 calories per hour*

    Ice fishing might seem like little else than waiting around and occasionally taking a nip of whiskey for warmth, but actually, it involves a great deal of movement -- from building a fire to setting up the lines. And as anyone who has gotten a nibble on their lure knows, reeling in a fish big enough for dinner requires a great deal of arm and core strength. What's more, out in the cold, the body has to work over time to maintain it's internal temperature -- another calorie buster.

    *This estimate is actually for general fishing, so it should be considered rough.




  • 7. Sledding


    362 calories per hour

    Sledding is a great way to combine family bonding time with a bit of exercise. While flying down a hillside isn't going to be a major calorie buster, trekking back up that same slope will work your glutes just as hard as any set of squats. But time on the sled isn't a total waste: all that steering and balancing is helping to work your core muscles.




  • 6. Ice Skating


    460 calories per hour

    Balance, balance, balance. Just like ballet exercises en pointe, the precarious perch from a single-blade skate will help you work all the small-group muscles that keep you upright. Get ready for a lower-body focused cardio work out and some dance-style strength training.




  • 5. Snowboarding


    485 calories per hour

    Long associated with slackers, snowboarding is actually quite a major effort: the necessary balance to navigate a board down an advanced course -- or even a beginner's hill -- requires exceptional core strength and power. And it pays off, with a major calorie burn.




  • 4. Ice Hockey


    545 calories per hour

    Ice hockey's cadence and pace is fast-paced, making the sport a major cardio workout. But balance is as important to lumbering hockey players as it is to lithe figure skaters. And maintaining total muscle control also provides a great strength-training workout. The combination makes the sport a calorie incinerator -- and that's even before factoring in calories burned from fighting.




  • 3. Ice Climbing


    545 calories per hour

    For the most intrepid only, ice climbing compares to rock climbing in its unparalleled development of a strong upper body, including arms, shoulders and back.




  • 2. Cross-Country Skiing


    572 calories per hour

    About as close as you can get to stopping and smelling the flowers during snowy winter months, a trek on cross-country skis can bring you into the silence and peace of nature at your own pace. And while you're busy listening for the creaky sound of deciduous trees shedding ice, you'll be burning more than enough calories to earn that cup of cocoa upon your return home. It's hard to find another exercise that is at once calming and a hardcore workout.




  • 1. Snowshoeing


    650-700 calories per hour

    Snowshoeing is often overlooked in favor of more common snowy sports, like skiing and snowboarding. But there is no better way to trek through a wintry wonderland than on these webbed shoes, which help their users stay atop deep snow banks by distributing weight over a wider surface area.