The Importance of Touch for Healing Pain and Decreasing Cravings with Dr. Njideka Olatunde

Happy Satiated Saturday! 

Many of you may know that touch has been linked to the release of oxytocin. Oxytocin is a hormone related to reproduction, social bonding, stress regulation, and promotes feelings of love, trust, attachment, intimacy, and calm. Ya know what else stimulates the release of oxytocin? Eating. 

Research studies have found that an increase in oxytocin can decrease the urge to eat. So you can imagine that if you're lacking safe touch in your life and touch has felt invasive, where you stay away from touch, that your body needed to find another way to receive the oxytocin that it desires to feel calm and connected. It found a way to do that through food. This is another example of why food is not just about the food. We can continue to be curious about what food is doing for your body.

In this week's episode, I chat with Dr. Njideka Olatunde, author, Master Reflexologist, Pain Relief Educator, and founder of Focus On Healing Wellness Institute about: 

• The power of touch and re-defining what touch is
• Understanding the connection between stress and pain
• Refloxology
• Daily touch practices
• The importance of play and fun
• I also sprinkle in the connection between touch and your food behaviors

You can also read the transcript to this week’s episode ​here​: https://www.stephaniemara.com/blog/touch-for-healing-pain-and-decreasing-cravings

With Compassion and Empathy, 

Stephanie Mara Fox

Keep in touch with Dr. Olatunde here: 

Website: https://focusonhealing.com/

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/njidekanolatunde 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/evolving_butterfly 

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@changingliveswithtouchology 

Podcast: www.touchologywellnessexperience.com