The 6 Stages of Nutrition: More Than Just Eating Well

Good nutrition is often thought of as simply eating the right foods, but it’s really a complex process that involves several stages, each essential to your body’s ability to thrive.

Understanding these stages can empower you to support your health holistically, especially if you are a sensitive or empathic soul.

Here are the six key stages:

Ingestion
This is the act of taking something in to the system. I can be anything from tasting food, to smelling something bad, to hearing great music or too much noise. What you choose to ingest through the senses matters greatly, but it’s just the first step.

Digestion
Once the information enters the system it is broken down into smaller components that the body and mind can absorb. This includes both mechanical breakdown (chewing and stomach churning) and chemical processes (enzymes and acids), mental processing and deciphering, or breaking down and understanding incoming information at a deeper level.

Absorption
The information from what we ingest through our senses is absorbed through many systems including the small intestines. This is a process of analysis and discrimination. This step is vital as it determines what your body actually receives and what to do with each piece of information.

Circulation
Nutrients or information is transported and delivered to the appropriate areas, cells and tissues to be used for energy, growth, repair, and other bodily functions. The nervous system plays a large role in transporting information throughout the body. If the system is tressed information may not get transported appropriately.

Assimilation
You can also think of this as the area where nutrients pass through the cell wall. If the wall or boundary isn’t strong enough it might let in what is not needed and let go or give away something that is important to its function.

Elimination
Finally, waste products from digestion and metabolism are removed from the body. Efficient elimination supports detoxification and overall health. On a metaphysical level this area is all about release that which is no longer needed or has served a purpose. If you cannot let go and are holding onto emotions you may be prolonging pain and causing blockages in your physical body.

What If It’s Not What You Eat—But How You Process It?

You might be eating all the “right” foods…
but still feel tired, bloated, or foggy.

It may not be about the food itself,
but rather how your mind processes your life circumstances..

Let’s walk through the 6 stages of nutrition again, through a holistic lens—and explore where things can go off track.

The 6 Stages of Nutrition

(According to naturopathic and integrative health wisdom)

Diet/Ingestion – What you take in or eat. On all levels, including the senses.

Digestion – How well your body or mind breaks it down.

Absorption – How well you’re absorbing the nutrients or information into your bloodstream or system.

Even if you eat organic and clean, issues with digestion or absorption can block you from receiving the nourishment you need, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Assimilation – Are you able to assimilate the information coming in through your senses?

Circulation – Nutrients being delivered where they’re needed. Is the information reaching the right places—or getting stuck?

Elimination – Releasing what your body doesn’t need. Can you release what no longer serves your growth and evolution?

A sluggish lymph system, poor circulation, or emotional stress can affect these stages.
It’s not just about food—it’s about flow. How well is your life flowing? Are you working with the current or swimming upstream like a salmon?

Where Sensitive Souls Often Get Stuck

For sensitive and empathic individuals, nutritional challenges are often deeper than diet. Some common blocks include:

Stress, which shuts down digestion by triggering the fight-or-flight response

Emotional blocks, which can weaken nutrient assimilation (Metaphysical Anatomy, 2014)

Toxic loads such as mould, EMFs, or unresolved trauma, which can interfere with absorption and elimination

This is why sensitive bodies often require emotional and energetic support—not just nutritional advice.

You’re Not Broken—Your Body Is Asking for Deeper Support

-At Soukya, I guide clients through:

-Clearing emotional blocks to digestion

-Gentle detox and lymphatic support

-Restoring energy and balance through soul-aligned healing

Understanding these stages empowers you to work with your body instead of fighting against it.

Modality: Kinesiology – How Can It Support Digestion?
Kinesiology offers a unique and holistic approach to addressing digestive issues such as bloating, cramping, food intolerances, and constipation. As a practitioner, I’ve worked with hundreds of clients experiencing these concerns, and one common insight emerges: digestion isn’t solely about the food we consume.

Our digestive system processes more than just physical substances—it also responds to everything we take in through our senses. This includes sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and tactile experiences. In other words, the body “digests” sensory and emotional input as well.

Here’s how it works:

Information enters the body through sensory pathways—ears, eyes, nose, mouth, and skin. It then moves through the nervous system to the brain, where it’s processed (or assimilated). Ideally, what we don’t need is then efficiently released—both physically and energetically.

When this process is disrupted—such as when the system struggles to assimilate or eliminate what it’s taken in—the body can retain that input. Energetically, this can manifest as physical symptoms like constipation or digestive discomfort. Over time, this stagnation can impact the function of organs, glands, and the overall balance of the body.

Kinesiology helps identify and release these blockages, supporting the body’s natural ability to process and eliminate what no longer serves it—whether that’s physical, emotional, or energetic.

Supporting Your Nutrition Journey Holistically

Alongside kinesiology, there are simple holistic steps to nourish your body through all stages of nutrition:

Eat mindfully, choosing whole, nutrient-dense foods that support digestion and energy

Stay hydrated and include foods rich in fibre to support elimination

Practice gentle movement and relaxation to stimulate digestion and reduce stress

Honour your body’s signals — avoid foods or environments that overwhelm your senses or emotions

Seek professional support like Kinesiology to address deeper blockages beyond physical nutrition

A Personal Reflection

I once had a client who suffered from chronic bloating and discomfort despite eating what seemed like a “healthy” diet. Through Kinesiology sessions, we discovered emotional stress and sensory overload were contributing to their digestive issues. By releasing these blockages and introducing supportive nutritional habits, their symptoms gradually eased—and their overall vitality returned.

This experience reminded me that true nourishment comes from caring for the whole self—body, mind, and spirit.

You Don’t Have to Navigate Nutrition Alone

If digestion feels challenging or if you’re sensitive to more than just food, know that healing is possible.
At Soukya Health & Well Being, I offer compassionate, personalised support using Kinesiology, holistic therapies,
and self-care guidance to help you thrive through all stages of nutrition.

Need Support on Your Nutrition and Digestion Journey?

Reach out by emailing vanessa@soukya.com.au or book your free consultation
today to start feeling nourished inside and out.