In order to properly stimulate the vagal release of stomach acid during the cephalic phase of eating, you must have some general interest in the meal that you're about to consume.
What is the cephalic phase? It’s the first phase of eating which initiates when you see, smell, and taste food. It is responsible for 30% of your hydrochloric acid production. This is the material needed for breaking down food properly.
Bland meals will not stimulate cephalic release of hydrochloric acid as much would a meal that appears appetizing and appealing.
So just the thought and visual of sitting down looking at, and eating a self-selected meal that is appealing to you will potentially increase the release of stomach acid, improving digestibility of that food
How many times do I hear? “ Doc, I went to Italy and ate everything and felt fine and then I came back to the states and my gut is blowing up like a balloon again”… . Maybe you were enamored with the meal you had? Thus your nervous system was receiving it with parasympathetic release of hydrochloric acid?
If you are eating bland meals that have no color, flavor, aroma, or pleasant visual sensation; you might try changing this up to improve digestibility.
Reference: Johnson, L. R., PhD. (2013). Gastrointestinal physiology: Mosby Physiology Monograph Series (With STUDENT CONSULT Online Access). Elsevier Health Sciences.
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