Your gut wisdom, also known as the enteric nervous system, is a rich and complicated network that senses and controls events in the digestive tract and, remarkably, can sense and respond to events in other parts of the body, including the brain.

Asking this brain-in-your-belly for advice about foods to eat, and which amounts, using this simple five step exercise, is an incredible way to connect to your deeper knowing about the diet that is best for you:

1. Before any meal or snack, sit comfortably and take five deep breaths into your midsection.

2. Let the breath flow in and out naturally and generously without holding or forcing it. Feel what a full oxygenated gut feels like.

3. Consciously rest your mind and ask for insights from the wisdom of your enteric brain, or gut wisdom. “Is this a good food for me to eat right now?” or “What meal would be best for my body at this time?” or “What amount of this food is best in this moment?”

4. Let the answers arise effortlessly, with a quiet mind and without censorship.

5. Follow the directions of your gut’s wisdom and note the results.