Exercises That Aid Digestive Health

Exercises That Aid Digestive Health

When it comes to exercise, many of us are focused on what will burn the most calories, build a certain physique or help us train for a specific sport or event. However, there is a multitude of benefits from exercise that goes beyond weight loss, strength and athletic ability.

Exercise has a positive impact on all the systems in the body, including the digestive system. In fact, all of your lifestyle habits can impact the health of your gastrointestinal tract for better or worse. That includes exercise.

How Does Exercise Improve Digestive Health?

Staying active can help improve digestive health in a number of ways. Regular exercise provides the following benefits:

• Aids in digestion by activating intestinal activity and digestive enzymes, as well as increasing blood flow to the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract (which helps move food through the system).
• Increases gut bacteria health (which improves digestion and nutrient absorption), as well as reducing inflammation and improving immune system function.
• Can help stimulate bowel movements.

 

Why Digestive Health Is Important  

Digestive health is essential to a healthy body and mind. The digestive system is responsible for processing food, absorbing nutrients, and eliminating toxins and waste. Disturbances within the system can lead to negative health outcomes. A poorly functioning digestive tract can also cause symptoms, such as heartburn, bloating, gas, diarrhea or constipation, fatigue or low energy, and unwanted weight gain or weight loss.

A healthy digestive system is vital to the health of the immune system. About 70% to 80% of your immune system is found in the gut. If your gut microbiome is compromised, your defenses against illness are weakened. This can range from being able to successfully fight off common colds and flus to the development of a chronic illness, such as an autoimmune disease, diabetes, obesity, heart disease and cancer.

The health of the digestive system also impacts mental well-being. The gastrointestinal tract is constantly sending signals to the brain via a pathway known as the gut-brain axis. When the digestive system is in distress, it can negatively affect your mental and emotional states.

What Exercises Are Best For Digestive Health?

As a general rule, the best exercise for digestive health is low-intensity or moderate exercise. That doesn’t mean you need to avoid high-intensity training. It still has its place within a workout program, as it provides other health benefits. However, it does not promote digestive health. This is because high-intensity exercise causes the digestive system to slow down as blood flow is diverted from the gastrointestinal tract to the muscles being used during the workout. For this reason, we recommend avoiding high-intensity exercise directly after eating.

Our top moderate exercise picks for optimizing digestive system health include:

• Walking/Hiking: Try to make your walk brisk to get your heart rate up when walking for fitness. To aid in digestion after a meal, go for a short, gentle stroll.
• Yoga: In addition to helping reduce stress hormones (which also impact gut health), yoga poses help optimize digestion. They also build core strength, which can aid in digestive health.
• Swimming: This is a great option to help maintain healthy intestinal activity. As swimming is a low-impact exercise, it is a good choice for people with joint problems or injuries.
• Resistance Training: Strength training not only helps keep your muscles and joints healthy, but it also promotes gut health and reduces inflammation. The good news is that you don’t have to lift heavy weights or join a gym to reap the benefits. Simple bodyweight routines performed in the comfort of your own home can provide results.
• Core Work: Abdominal exercises can help promote healthy digestion. It is recommended to perform core work on an empty stomach.

Exercise in all forms is good for your general health. If you are suffering from gastrointestinal problems or if you simply want to give your gut and immune system a boost, you can make improvements by incorporating more low-intensity exercise into your workout program. If you are making health goals for the new year, make your digestive health one of them!

GastroIntestinal Specialists, A.M.C. is the largest independent gastroenterology group in Northwest Louisiana. Their board-certified physicians have more than 150 years of combined experience in providing quality care that you can trust. To schedule an appointment, visit www.gis.md or call (318) 631-9121.